Thursday, August 30, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 8/29/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News Notes
You can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Sunday, August 26, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 8/22/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 8/1/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Thursday, July 5, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 7/5/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Summer Edition of Tidings
The summer edition of Tidings, our monthly newsletter, is now available online for your enjoyment and illumination. The next issue of Tidings will be September, so make sure you get your articles and updates in by August 15th so that they are sure to be included.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Did Paul say "women should say nothing" really?
Hear our latest sermon on being generous from this past Sunday. Other past sermons are also available.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
New Sermon Up
Last week's sermon failed to record, but we have the one from the week before and it is now available online with the others. Hear our lay leader give us, "Shrubs, Not Trees."
Thursday, June 21, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 6/20/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 5/30/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
In The Spirit
The sermon from this past Sunday is now available for you to listen to on our website.
Letter from the Pastor’s Desk
Dear NUMC,
On the last Sunday in May 2012 we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which recalls the coming of the Holy Spirit on Christ’s followers who remained in Jerusalem after his ascension to heaven (where God dwells). This visitation of the Holy Spirit brought a mighty power to the Body of Christ that enables them to continue the marvelous work that they had experienced during Jesus’ ministry on earth. This past April the United Methodist Church’s nine hundred plus delegates from around the world met in Tampa Florida to discuss and make decisions about the mission and business of the church for the next four years and beyond. It was a Spirit-filled time, most of the time.
I quote Bishop Peter Weaver, our bishop, who delivered the Episcopal address on behalf of the Council of Bishops to the Conference, on the naming of Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay was first named by the Spanish who visited in the 15th Century, “Bahia Del Espiritu Santo” or The Bay of the Holy Spirit. While not everything was accomplished in Tampa that many of us had hoped, we nevertheless had some Holy Spirit moments—times when we felt that the Holy Spirit was present. My constant prayer is that we open up our hearts so that the Holy Spirit can do its powerful work in us and through us. When we realize and begin to live the truth that we cannot live this life to ourselves and that we need God, the Triune God in our lives, then wonderful, powerful things happen. We need God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer in our lives, as Parent, Sibling and Holy Spirit.
When I decided to share with this congregation the fact that I was one of nearly two hundred clergy in the New England Annual Conference to have signed a declaration that we would minister to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and Other persons (LGBTQO) in our congregations including offering a blessing for their relationships, and in states where these members are allowed to marry, performing such ceremonies, it was a part of my commentary on the reality that the church is divided on this issue. It seemed like an appropriate time to let the congregation know where I stood and that my stance is an open stance, not a closed one; meaning that I am willing to discuss the issue with anyone in a respectful and dignified manner, in a Christian manner, with love. What concerns me about this issue is that it has threatened to divide the church for the past thirty years. But whereas discussion of the issue started in an extreme manner, with persons on both sides digging in their heels and not budging an inch and being extremely disparaging and dismissive of each other, I have seen some progress in terms of people at least being willing to listen to each other and to speak to each other in love. It does not mean necessarily that individuals have changed their minds, but it does mean that people on both sides are willing to listen to each other. That is a first step.
I do not believe that this issue will cause a split in the church. Some people will leave, yes, but the stakes are too high for the church to disintegrate and God’s church will go on anyway, with or without us. We make the decision about whether we will be a part of the unfolding of God’s creation or not. The choice is ours. We can walk away in anger about this or any other issue, or we can stay and with faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit to move among us, see what God is calling us to do now. At this time. We are called for just such a time as this.
God who does not change, but who is far beyond anything that we can ever imagine, is always surprising us and nothing in creation is static. If it is, it is dead. Life means change. Can you think of a time when you were convinced that you were right about something, later to find out that you were wrong? That has happened to me so much that I got tired of being wrong and limited, and decided instead to open my mind to the intricate number of possibilities that exist. God is infinity and our words to describe God are really feeble attempts to describe the indescribable.
Recall that at one time the world was thought to be flat and those who suggested otherwise were punished, some as severely as having to give up their lives for their beliefs. Then some brave sailors sailed and did not fall off the face of the earth. At one time, space travel was thought to be impossible, yet in the sixteenth century there were those who were already imagining space flight. Now space flight is a reality. Or think of the time when communication with someone in another country meant waiting for a letter to take weeks to reach its destination and its reader. Today, we pick up a telephone no longer tied to a line and speak to someone in another country with only a few seconds’ delay, the time it takes for a signal to go from our instrument to a satellite and then to another instrument.
Truth is, we don’t know everything there is to know—about anything. God is constantly revealing Godself and we are constantly gaining knowledge, each and every moment about all the things there are in this complex universe, including what there is to know about human sexuality. We know some things. We do not know everything. Let us remain open to expanding knowledge of God and God’s creation.
So since we do not know everything, the sensible response to what we do not know is not to hate it or condemn it, but to be open to learning about it; to accept that we are ourselves limited and to ask the Holy Spirit which knows everything to reveal to us what we do not know. To approach life any other way is to be arrogant. That does not work because we are by definition, limited. The way to approach our differences and our problems is to ask the Holy Spirit for the power of wisdom and discernment and then proceed with care and with love. It is the only way, or as Paul said, the more excellent way. Love casts out fear.
Blessings,
Pastor Laurel
On the last Sunday in May 2012 we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which recalls the coming of the Holy Spirit on Christ’s followers who remained in Jerusalem after his ascension to heaven (where God dwells). This visitation of the Holy Spirit brought a mighty power to the Body of Christ that enables them to continue the marvelous work that they had experienced during Jesus’ ministry on earth. This past April the United Methodist Church’s nine hundred plus delegates from around the world met in Tampa Florida to discuss and make decisions about the mission and business of the church for the next four years and beyond. It was a Spirit-filled time, most of the time.
I quote Bishop Peter Weaver, our bishop, who delivered the Episcopal address on behalf of the Council of Bishops to the Conference, on the naming of Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay was first named by the Spanish who visited in the 15th Century, “Bahia Del Espiritu Santo” or The Bay of the Holy Spirit. While not everything was accomplished in Tampa that many of us had hoped, we nevertheless had some Holy Spirit moments—times when we felt that the Holy Spirit was present. My constant prayer is that we open up our hearts so that the Holy Spirit can do its powerful work in us and through us. When we realize and begin to live the truth that we cannot live this life to ourselves and that we need God, the Triune God in our lives, then wonderful, powerful things happen. We need God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer in our lives, as Parent, Sibling and Holy Spirit.
When I decided to share with this congregation the fact that I was one of nearly two hundred clergy in the New England Annual Conference to have signed a declaration that we would minister to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and Other persons (LGBTQO) in our congregations including offering a blessing for their relationships, and in states where these members are allowed to marry, performing such ceremonies, it was a part of my commentary on the reality that the church is divided on this issue. It seemed like an appropriate time to let the congregation know where I stood and that my stance is an open stance, not a closed one; meaning that I am willing to discuss the issue with anyone in a respectful and dignified manner, in a Christian manner, with love. What concerns me about this issue is that it has threatened to divide the church for the past thirty years. But whereas discussion of the issue started in an extreme manner, with persons on both sides digging in their heels and not budging an inch and being extremely disparaging and dismissive of each other, I have seen some progress in terms of people at least being willing to listen to each other and to speak to each other in love. It does not mean necessarily that individuals have changed their minds, but it does mean that people on both sides are willing to listen to each other. That is a first step.
I do not believe that this issue will cause a split in the church. Some people will leave, yes, but the stakes are too high for the church to disintegrate and God’s church will go on anyway, with or without us. We make the decision about whether we will be a part of the unfolding of God’s creation or not. The choice is ours. We can walk away in anger about this or any other issue, or we can stay and with faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit to move among us, see what God is calling us to do now. At this time. We are called for just such a time as this.
God who does not change, but who is far beyond anything that we can ever imagine, is always surprising us and nothing in creation is static. If it is, it is dead. Life means change. Can you think of a time when you were convinced that you were right about something, later to find out that you were wrong? That has happened to me so much that I got tired of being wrong and limited, and decided instead to open my mind to the intricate number of possibilities that exist. God is infinity and our words to describe God are really feeble attempts to describe the indescribable.
Recall that at one time the world was thought to be flat and those who suggested otherwise were punished, some as severely as having to give up their lives for their beliefs. Then some brave sailors sailed and did not fall off the face of the earth. At one time, space travel was thought to be impossible, yet in the sixteenth century there were those who were already imagining space flight. Now space flight is a reality. Or think of the time when communication with someone in another country meant waiting for a letter to take weeks to reach its destination and its reader. Today, we pick up a telephone no longer tied to a line and speak to someone in another country with only a few seconds’ delay, the time it takes for a signal to go from our instrument to a satellite and then to another instrument.
Truth is, we don’t know everything there is to know—about anything. God is constantly revealing Godself and we are constantly gaining knowledge, each and every moment about all the things there are in this complex universe, including what there is to know about human sexuality. We know some things. We do not know everything. Let us remain open to expanding knowledge of God and God’s creation.
So since we do not know everything, the sensible response to what we do not know is not to hate it or condemn it, but to be open to learning about it; to accept that we are ourselves limited and to ask the Holy Spirit which knows everything to reveal to us what we do not know. To approach life any other way is to be arrogant. That does not work because we are by definition, limited. The way to approach our differences and our problems is to ask the Holy Spirit for the power of wisdom and discernment and then proceed with care and with love. It is the only way, or as Paul said, the more excellent way. Love casts out fear.
Blessings,
Pastor Laurel
New Newsletter Available
The June issue of Tidings, our monthly newsletter, is available on our website for your education and enjoyment. The next issue will be a combined July/August newsletter. Be sure to submit by the 15th of June any articles or information that needs to be in this edition.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
New Sermon Up - Listen for the spontaneous applause
Listen online to our latest sermon. You might also be interested to read this from last year as it seems on topic.
Friday, May 18, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 5/16/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Friday, May 11, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 5/7/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Friday, May 4, 2012
Spring Movie Night
MOVIE NIGHT - Saturday, May 12th at 6:30 pm
Take Mom to the movies for Mother’s Day—heck, bring everyone!
Come join in the fun, laughter, adventure, popcorn, drinks,
and fellowship of our Spring movie night.
"TANGLED" - one of the funniest, most hair-raising tales ever told.
When the kingdom's most infamous - and charismatic - outlaw, Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi), takes refuge in a secret tower hidden deep in the forest, he's taken captive by Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore), a striking and spirited teen blessed with 70 feet of enchanted, golden blonde hair. Having been looking for an escape route from the tower where she's been grounded her whole life, Rapunzel makes a pact with the handsome thief and the improbable duo soon find themselves tangled up in a spectacular action-packed escapade, complete with a super-sleuth horse, a chameleon side-kick and a rowdy gang of pub thugs.
Featuring unexpected heroes, calculating villains, laughter, action and hair - lots of hair - Disney's Tangled is a comedy adventure for the whole family.
Stamp Out Hunger
Good Morning Congregations of MACC Member Churches-
This is a reminder that the national campaign of “Stamp Out Hunger” is coming up on May 12th. Postal Workers will collect canned food which has been bagged and placed by a mailbox to then donate to local pantry that day (we happen to be one of those local pantries). Here is the link to the online information: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/ . This is a simple drive that can have long-lasting effects if people are aware of the opportunity. Food drives like this one keep our shelves stocked and families fed- we thank you in advance for your involvement, please contact us with any questions.
Kindly,
Nathan Oldham
Community Engagement Coordinator for MACC Charities
Call or Message 860-942-4549
This is a reminder that the national campaign of “Stamp Out Hunger” is coming up on May 12th. Postal Workers will collect canned food which has been bagged and placed by a mailbox to then donate to local pantry that day (we happen to be one of those local pantries). Here is the link to the online information: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/ . This is a simple drive that can have long-lasting effects if people are aware of the opportunity. Food drives like this one keep our shelves stocked and families fed- we thank you in advance for your involvement, please contact us with any questions.
Kindly,
Nathan Oldham
Community Engagement Coordinator for MACC Charities
Call or Message 860-942-4549
Thursday, May 3, 2012
UMCatalyst News Notes 5/2/2012
Follow this link to read the latest in e-news for clergy and laity in the New England Conference:
UMCatalyst News NotesYou can also check out old issues in the News and Publication Archives of the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
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