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A Fond Farewell June 2016 Vol. 4 Issue 5 Connecting Generations to Grow Relationships with God, Others, and Creation A Fond Farewell Chris Martin, Associate Pastor It is truly hard to believe that in just a few short weeks my time here at Latham United Methodist Church will be coming to an end. These three years have gone by far too quickly. I can’t begin to express in words how incredibly blessed our family has been during our time here! I came to Latham as a “rookie” preacher, to say the least, and all of you have taught me more about being a pastor than four years of seminary ever did. Many of you have graciously shared with me how you’ve watched me grow during my time here, and while I’m thankful for your kind words, I need to humbly acknowledge that any growth you’ve seen in me is first and foremost because the Holy Spirit has brought it about. And I would also credit that growth to a church family who has constantly encouraged me and shown tremendous patience with my frequent missteps and mistakes. Whatever we’ve managed to accom- plish during my time here was certainly a team effort and I owe a great debt of gratitude to our gifted church staff! I believe with all my heart that the work we’ve begun with discipleship will bear fruit for the kingdom of God - if you stay the course! I also believe that Matt Jones is going to be a great addition to the church staff and if you will simply surround him with the love and patience and encouragement you offered to me, he will do great things at Latham. And finally I want to borrow a few words from the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” God has graciously given each of you some amazing gifts and I want to encourage you in the strongest possible way to allow the Holy Spirit to fan those gifts into flame. This is a great church and I believe God wants to do amazing things through it, if you will endeavor to be the radically countercultural force God has called you to be. No matter where God leads us on this great adventure we began back in 2009, Latham UMC will always hold a very special place in our heart and the lessons I’ve learned from all of you will certainly shape the ministry I do in the future. Thank you for all your love and support! Know that we love you all and that this church will ever remain in our prayers, just as we hope to remain in yours. Grace & Peace to You All! Chris, Amy, Jack, Graham, & Ben Pa ge 2 Letter from the Bishop, Debra Wallace-Padgett Dear Friends, I am grateful for each of you and your ministry in North Alabama. Thanks to you, amazing ministry is happen- ing across this Conference and around the world! I know that some of you have been following General Conference proceedings closely by livestream. Technol- ogy allows those who want to stay up on everything that is happening to witness play-by-play accounts! Others of you are gathering your information through conver- sations, social media and additional means. It always takes a while to sort through everything that transpires at a General Conference. For now, here are some of the major items from the past 10 days. · We prayed heartfelt prayers for our church and our mission to the world and shared in uplifting wor- ship during which we praised God in a variety of languages and acts of worship. · We celebrated Imagine No Malaria, noting the initiative has touched at least 4.6 million lives. We heard exciting reports on Vital Congregations. We heard testimonies of how United Methodists are in ministry around the world from medical clinics in Africa ... to building wells for people who lack clean water ... to ministries in prisons throughout the US and the world ... to our work through the Global AIDS fund ... to the work of the Korea Peace Committee. · The Book of Discipline remains the same around human sexuality matters, including paragraphs about how to deal with violations. A Special Commission will be formed by the Council of Bishops to re- view every paragraph in our Book of Discipline regarding human sexuality. This Commission could possibly bring recommendations to a called General Conference prior to the year 2020. You will hear more from the North Alabama delegation about General Conference in the days to come. Also, there will be further clarification about the Council of Bishops’ recommendation to find a way forward regard- ing human sexuality as well as the process for naming the Special Commission in the near future. This General Conference has given evidence to both the joys and challenges of serving the church during the 21st century. May God grant us extra measures of hope, renewal, passion, strength and grace in this time and place. As always it is a privilege to serve as your bishop. Blessings, Debra Wallace-Padgett Resident Bishop North Alabama Conference Pa ge 3 Lectionary Scriptures for June June 5, 2016 I Kings 17:8-24: Elijah and the Widow Psalm 146 Galatians 1:11-24: Call to Apostleship Luke 7:11-17: Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain June 12, 2016 I Kings 21:1-21a: Ahab lost sight of who he was and ignored the rights of those he had been called to rule. As a result he found himself in a place of condemnation before God. Psalm 5:1-8: Galatians 2:15-21: Paul addresses the legal question about whether Gentiles must first become followers of the Law before becoming converts to Christianity. He argues that God’s grace is not something to be earned by obedience to laws, but something to be received by faith in what God has done through Jesus Christ. Luke 7:36-8:3: Jesus commends to the Pharisees the woman who lived a sinful life and who wet his feet with her tears as an example of what it means to act in faith. Out of desperation and need, she dared to approach him and was rewarded with forgiveness thay set her free from her own deprivation. June 19, 2016 I Kings 19: 1-15a: The easiest thing to do when the cards are stack against us is to retreat and complain. This is what Elijah did. Complaining to God is not a bad thing. Complaining to God acknowledges the existence of God and opens us God’s “still small voice” that encourages us to rise and go. Psalm 42 Galatians 3: 23-29: Paul insists that the law can lead people to Christ because it reveals the limitations of their ability to save themselves. Only faith in Christ’s saving work enables people to enter fully into Christ’s love and frees them. Baptism is the symbol of freedom in Christ. Luke 8:26-39: Healing the demon-possessed man demonstrates Jesus’ compassion for all situations of the hu- man condition. Letting the demon take residence in a herd of swine might suggest that his belief in people is more important than possession. June 26, 2016 II Kings 2:1-2, 6-14: Elisha prepares for the departure of his friend, Elijah. Realizing that the mantle of lead- ership is about to fall on his shoulders he prays: “let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” Psalm 77: 1-2, 11-20: Galatians 5: 1, 13-25: A dynamic faith represents more than freedom from the law. There is a corresponding freedom for a higher principle which envelops the life of those who claim Jesus as the Christ. Luke 9: 51-62: Jesus sets a pattern for his followers as “he sets his face toward Jerusalem.” This determina- tion of purpose, linked with the compassion he had for those who would reject him, was a picture of the expec- tations he had for his followers, his disciples. He has little patience with those who are all talk and no action. Pa ge 4 Music Ministry Sam Cox, Minister of Music In 1920, composer Eric Satie wrote a series of pieces to accom- pany a comedy by writer Max Jacob. During the intermission, the audience was asked to view an exhibition of children’s draw- ings in the gallery space. As part of the experience, Satie wrote what he called musique d’ameublement (often translated as “furniture music”), a series of short pieces referencing popular songs, intended to be heard in the background. However, when the audience heard music playing in the hall, they rushed back in, fear- ing that they were missing the performance. Satie had to explain to his astounded audience that the music was not intended to be listened to; rather, it was meant to be experienced subliminally. Years later, the Muzak company patented a system called “Stimulus Progression” in which 15-minute blocks of increasingly stimulating music were played for factory workers, increasing their productivity. The Muzak effect is dependent on inattentive listening, the music being so far in the background that other activities can be done in the foreground. Studies have shown that background music can also influence purchasing behavior and brand identity. In such an overstimulated sonic environment, where we can be emotionally manipulated without even realiz- ing it, the embrace of silence becomes important.
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