August 17, 2008

It's ready. We are ready to move into the parsonage. You have no idea how excited we are to finally be in the community (and how excited Amanda and the kids are to not get up at 4:30 am to get to practice on time). Probably the most exciting part of the entire experience was watching the church come together in a united effort to make this happen.

My dad told a story about a person watching two men laying bricks. It was a sweltering hot summer day like we have been having here in Central Texas. One man was carrying bricks and mortar up a ladder to a scaffolding where another man was carefully placing them into the wall that they were building. One of the two whistled and smiled while he worked, the other frowned, grumbled and cursed the heat. The observer decided to chat for a moment with the two, so he climbed up the ladder to the mason on the scaffolding and asked him how things were going.

“Are you kidding?” came the reply. “It's 102 degrees out here, I'm trapped on this scaffolding laying these stupid bricks. How do you think it's going?”

Unscathed, the observer climbed down to the other man stacking his next load of bricks. The same question met a different response this time. With a twinkle in his eye, he said, “Oh, today is a beautiful day! I'm building this cathedral. Won't it be beautiful!”

The people who worked on the parsonage were not just laying bricks—they were building a cathedral far grander than just a place for me and my family to reside. How about the rest of us? Are we showing up for our obligatory hour on Sunday morning? Or are we part of something bigger? Something that has the ability to transform our community and our world? Something bigger than Bruceville-Eddy United Methodist Church?

The mission statement adopted by the General Conference is “…to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The Council of Bishops has advocated this change for quite some time, and the addition of “for the transformation of the world” serves to make clear our commitment to “the transformation of the world” as an end of Christian discipleship. Bruceville-Eddy United Methodist Church won't be satisfied with the transformation of our community. In the words of John Wesley, “I look upon all the world as my parish”.

So how will we transform the world? By making disciples of Jesus Christ, starting right here at home. By practicing the means of grace: “chief of these means are prayer ..., searching the Scriptures ..., receiving the Lord's Supper” and by looking beyond the bricks to the cathedral.

God bless,

Pastor Brad

August 10, 2008

So where were you again last week, Brad? I was at Local Pastor Licensing School in Ft. Wort at Texas Wesleyan University. I thought, “Great! I will get a chance to see some people in Ft. Worth this week.” NOT! We went from breakfast at 7:30 am every morning until 10:00 pm or after every day with a two or three 15 minute breaks. I will never complain, because it was an amazing experience.

If the path to ordination and the distinction among those of us who serve in our church's pulpits every Sunday is confusing, you are definitely not alone. The General Board of Discipleship describes some of the servant leadership of the United Methodist Church (to explain, not compare) as follows:

An Elder is a clergy member of the annual conference ordained for Word, Order, and Sacrament. Under the guaranteed appointment (placement) of a bishop, an elder has usually completed seminary training. His or her sole livelihood comes from a church.

A Licensed Local Pastor is a clergy member of the annual conference who provides pastoral leadership in a local congregation. He or she is appointed (placed) by the bishop for nonitinerant ministry in a local congregation. His or her training includes attending a conference licensing (or pastors') school and completing the course of study program available from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

A Certified Lay Speaker:A certified lay speaker is a layperson who has completed the basic course in lay speaking ministries and an additional advanced course. His or her certification is renewed every three years upon completing another course.

Although lay speakers are intended to serve in the ministry and mission within the local congregation where they are members in good standing, certified lay speakers may serve beyond the local church. They may provide temporary pulpit supply for pastors who are away from the church due to vacation, a mission project, or a family crisis. Traditionally, lay speakers also speak on Laity Sunday.

I am currently a Certified Lay Speaker, am in process to become an ordained Elder and have completed training and am awaiting appointment as a Licensed Local Pastor here at BEUMC. So what does all this mean? For the time being, expect to see Dennis (an ordained elder) with me during Holy Communion. For more complex answers, I'm going to need some coffee.

God bless,

Pastor Brad

August 3, 2008

What is a church? First let's discuss what it is NOT. It is not a lifeless building made of brick, mortar, shingles and stained glass thrown in for good measure. Often times we say something about “meeting at the church” when what we really mean is that we will meet at the church building.

So what is the church? The church is the people. It is a living, growing, active being within the community. You may remember the children's song, “I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together.” We are the church together. Everyone one of us defines who Bruceville-Eddy United Methodist Church is. We are not the same without all of us.

So what is the church? It is a support group for sinners. It is a group where all are welcome and all are accepted. It is a gathering of this bizarre type of people known as Christians. People who give of themselves without expecting anything in return. It is people who volunteer their time to work on a home next door to the church building, not so that they can live there, but so that someone else can. They are people who donate desserts to a Senior Citizen Barbeque. They are people who pray for one another. Who trim trees who don't belong to them because they need it. They are people who give up their Wednesday evening to discuss the exciting topic of non-profit liability insurance.

So what is the church? In short it is a group of people who through the wonderful grace of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, do everything they can to go and make disciples of all nations by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service and their witness. THAT is what the church is.

God bless,

Pastor Brad