Belonging

Since our days on the playground, there has been an innate desire in most of us to belong. We wanted to be a part of the group hanging out near the swings, or the group that was playing on the basketball court. As human beings, we long to belong. That is why community is so important. In true community and genuine Koinonia (the Greek word for fellowship), one experiences a place of acceptance and belonging.

This is not to say that we all conform to the same likeness or that our churches look the exact same. That is not to say that we do not have diversity. Rather, we have the authentic community that fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. This is exactly what happened in the early church. After Pentecost, Luke tells us in the Book of Acts that those who had believed in Jesus began sharing life together. There was probably a sense of belonging and purpose as they would sell their possessions and give the proceeds to those who needed them. There was something abuzz about this new community. It’s freedom. It’s joy. It’s love was something that was palpable and its actions very convincing.

This coming together in community in the early church probably created a sense belonging. From this belonging came a movement that spread throughout Israel, the Mediterranean, and beyond. I want to invite us all to consider the power of belonging and how it helps to create a movement. When we feel a part of something, energy is created, the group dynamics change, and we began to feel less alone and more a part of something. We hope that happens when we come together around the communion table, around the table to prepare sandwiches for Grate Patrol, and when we sit down around the table to eat on the third Sunday of each month, and we come together to celebrate in worship. The belonging that we feel creates the synergy that propels the movement that we are a part of.

I hope you will join us on Sunday at 5 PM. I will be preaching about continuing to create a movement (or continue the movement that was created 2000 years ago.) As well as how our sense of belonging is rooted in this movement. I can’t wait to see what God is doing among us, and I can’t wait to hear how God has been at work in your life this week.

What's in a movement?

I have always been curious about how a movement gets started. How does one go from an idea in the head or a conviction in the heart to creating a movement? My guess is that it might be those who have the conviction in the heart who are spurred to move. Nonetheless, there have been movements throughout the course of history. In Church history there was the initial early church movement that was referred to as “The Way.” The was the Protestant Reformation led by Luther. There was a movement to make bibles accessible to the masses. There was John Wesley’s Methodist movement. Outside the bounds of organized religion there have been many other movements, most recently our country’s own struggle with the Civil Rights movement, the human rights campaign, the movement for marriage equality, and, of course, you can’t forget The Occupy Wallstreet movement.

Why do some movements stay with us and others fade away? What is the importance of faith in a movement, if any? How do movements affect our lives, and how do we contribute? Might there be another movement within the church to take us to the next place that God wants us to go? Tomorrow, we begin a three week series that will hopefully speak to each of us an individual level (how the Gospel is moving each of us) and on a corporate level (how might we become a movement where we become a blessing to others?) During this series, we will dream, design and explore our destiny as a community of faith. This week we will focus on what gives life to our movement and the synergy created by “first followers” Next week we will explore the power of belonging in a movement, and finally we will close out the week before Lent begins looking at our purpose and the purpose of movement. I hope you will join us and invite others who may be looking for something to be a part of that is bigger than themselves.

Remember, this Sunday night is Grate Patrol. We will make sandwiches that will be delivered following the service.

We will share our God sightings as well. In what ways have you seen God working this week? I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 5 PM! I can’t wait to see what will happen!

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

God is always coming...always!

So, I just returned from four days in Dallas, Texas. (They really do make things bigger in Texas…check out the 30 foot statue of Jesus in the church parking lot at First UMC Richardson below). Anyway, I was there for a conference on church leadership. Sounds exciting, right? Well, as with all conferences, there were things worth keeping and things you just let go. There were three things that stuck with me that I want to share with you as we continue to explore the missional church. I think these statements can speak to us personally and corporately as the “sent” body of Christ. So, here they are:

1.Our gathering time (worship) ultimately becomes storyboards of God sightings. We gather in worship to celebrate God and what God is doing in our lives and in the world.
2.One of the things we ought to work towards is figuring out how to “bless the world.” Through acts of mercy, kindness, justice, peace, and joy, we announce God is at work.
3.One of the most important things to remember…God is always coming….always.

These thoughts have energized me and are working in my heart as we shape our communal life at Crossroads. This week (January 29), I will be preaching, and the sermon is titled, “City on a Hill.” We will explore, dream, pray, dream, pray and dream so more about how we can become storytellers of God’s work, how we can bless the world., and proclaim that God is always coming…always.

One final thought as you reflect. During one powerful sermon by Olu Brown, pastor of Impact Church in Atlanta (a United Methodist Congregation), he reminded us to “not let our past defeat our future.”

As people of faith who believe that God is always coming…I pray that our past, although may inform, does not defeat our future.

I hope you will join us at 5 PM on Sunday. I can’t wait to see what happens….

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

Texas-sized Jesus

This is what greeted us as we made our way into First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas for the Large Church Initiative...a 30ft statue of Jesus...

They really do make things bigger in Texas...

Morning thoughts...

As I write this, I am bombarded with images on the news of protests and uprisings. The headlines speak over and over again of the bickering on Captiol Hill, and the discontent with politicians. It feels, as though, we are at some sort of tipping point, though I cannot quite put my finger on it just yet. Maybe you can. I don’t know.

What I do know, or rather, what I claim to believe is hope. Not necessarily some audacious hope that is mired in political banter, or is it some religious pie-in-the-sky, we all sing kumbaya kind of hope (although that would be fun, right? ). The hope that I am filled is this deep sense of calling that God has upon our community. The hope that we have as people who have been invited by a loving and grace-filled God into relationship with the divine, with one another, and the world. Through that relationship, we seek to find places where we can work for justice, where we can advocate for the oppressed, where we can seek wholeness in salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Each week, I am renewed by our sense of call through our worship together. In the times we work together to make sandwiches or walk to raise awareness of homelessness issues, I am renewed by our call as a people who seek justice, love mercy, and who long to walk humbly with God. I pray that in spite of the images that are put before us, images that could dampen our hope, may we be reminded of the God who calls us from darkness into light, and who loving leads us in hope.

Peace,

Jimmy

The mountains tremble and the earth shakes...

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Psalm 46:2-3

Dear friends,

Whew! What a week it has been. The question that has been asked the latter part of the week is, “where were you when the earthquake struck?” Living in a city like Washington, DC, you meet people from all over the world. My guess is there were plenty of folks from the West Coast and other parts of the world who had experienced earthquakes, but for many of us, it was a first. It leaves you trembling a bit…and thinking. Now, here were are sandwiched between two incredible forces of nature, an earthquake and a hurricane. One is very unpredictable, the other much more predictable. How often is the DC area rattled by and earthquake and then battered by a hurricane within the span of five days? It’s an incredible thing to reflect on as we think about the power of creation. If you recall, after God brought forth life from chaos, God rested. I think after the earthquake, a little rest would be in order.

We are in the midst of our Sabbath series, but it may be hard to think about rest as we prepare for possible tropical storm weather conditions. I pray that we all may find moments of time and sacred spaces where we can reflect on the wonder of creation while inviting the Holy Spirit to restore our bodies, souls and minds. Please be mindful of the weather conditions and be prepared. As we say in the South…we will see you on Sunday..”God willing and the creek don’t rise!” Let us not to forget to pray for and to help those most vulnerable in natural disasters.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

This week at Crossroads

Dear friends,

As we near the end of July, I hope that you have been able to find moments of solitude, gratitude, and play. Many of you will do just that in the month of August. As you are in town, you are invited to join us for worship at Crossroads. This week we are wrapping up our series on the Power of Food. We’ve explored our call to feed the hungry around us, we have been challenged to rethink how we approach food, and we’ve discussed the power food has to bring us together. Our final look this week has to do with looking beyond food as we explore ourselves in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once basic needs have been meet, we can begin to move forward in our journey seeking something greater for our lives. In the sermon “Not By Bread Alone,” we will explore the power of the presence of one another in our lives as we seek to find purpose and meaning. This self-actualization can be given space to grow and flourish through the holy spirit and with the encouragement and help of others. Jesus said that human kind cannot live by bread alone. While we need to food to exist, we need more to flourish and grow. Join us as we explore this together.

In our prayers:
Healing prayers for Mary Jean Evans, Annie Butler’s mother, and the people of Norway
Prayers of empowerment for our Volunteers-in-Mission team going to Nicaragua and for Susan Fratzke who is working in Belgium
Prayers of wisdom for the leaders of our country
Prayers of strength and healing for those struggling with emotional and mental illness
Prayers of mercy for those traveling this August
Prayers of grace for our community of faith
Prayers of discernment for the Crossroads vision
Prayers for our various service ministries and for the residents of the St. Luke’s shelter

Coming soon!

August Sermon Series: Sabbath. Join us as we explore this ancient, but often ignored practice of Sabbath. We will take the month of August to discover again the roots of Sabbath, how we might bring that into our place of work, how Sabbath helps us with advocacy, and practical ways to practice Sabbath drawing on our Christian tradition as well as Jewish and Muslim traditions.

The next installment of Jazz in the Garden will be Friday, August 12 from 6:30-8:30 featuring the Tara Hoffman Trio. Spread the word! Find more information at metrocrossroads.org

Food series wrap-up: As a part of the response to our sermon series called the Power of Food, we will be joining in a cooperative parish effort to feed those who are hungry around us. In the coming weeks you will hear information about trips to glean at local farms and the Salvation Army Grate Patrol. There will also be nutrition classes starting in the fall as well. Please pray about how you might serve in these areas.

Small group Bible study: Returns this fall. More information and opportunity to sign up soon.

Serving at Crossroads: We invite you to be a part of the Crossroads team. We are seeking help with food preparation and hospitality, greeters, and sound and video technicians. We will have opportunities to sign up at the service, but you can also e-mail me for more information.

I hope to see you this Sunday as we open ourselves to God’s movement in our lives.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy