October 2019

The LINK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF PATCHOGUE S i n c e 1 7 9 1 1791 October 2019 Let Me Make One Why? We are all less than Latin that literally means, Thing Perfectly perfect. So, is perfection “To Come Before” or “To Go WORSHIP IN something that we strive Before”. In other words, Clear OCTOBER for? Sounds like it would God’s grace is operating ow many of Oct. 6—The Rev. Dr. make a great goal on our even when we don’t know it you know that Charles Ferrara, “To Do” list? Don’t you working to woo or direct or October 1st is Luke 17:5-10 H think? draw us into a saving Oct. 13—The Rev. Dr. “Less Than Perfect Day?” Seeing that I am a relationship through Christ, Charles Ferrara, At first, I thought to Methodist minister His Son. Then, once we Luke 17:11-19 myself, “What a dumb day serving a Methodist surrender our lives to Oct. 20—Barbara Becker, of recognition!” Then, a Church—it might be a Christ, we are justified or Luke 18:1-8 lightbulb went off in my good idea to see what the reconciled with God; thus, Oct. 27—Kathy Halliwell head that it is actually a founder of the Methodist Justifying Grace. Luke 18:9-14 brilliant idea (no pun movement had to say But, for the purpose of intended). A reminder that about this. What did John this article dealing with we are less than perfect. Wesley have to say about “Less Than Perfect Day”— Now, that makes for a “Moving on to let me stick with the latter great sermon. perfection?” of the three, Sanctifying I would venture to say In a few weeks I will be Grace. that every single day one of the instructors at Continued on Page 2 reminds us of the fact that the Emmaus Walk. My we are not perfect. topic of discussion is James 3:2 says: “For we Prevenient Grace. In fact, all stumble in many ways. Wesley and the doctrine And if anyone does not of The United Methodist stumble in what he says, Church speaks of three he is a perfect man kinds of grace: Prevenient [person], able to also Grace, Justifying Grace, bridle his whole body.” and Sanctifying Grace. Well, thanks James— Now there’s a living in my seventh mouthful. Prevenient is a decade, I still have not word we derive from the found such a person. Circle of Concern Perfectly Clear (From Page 1) Under 35 Pastors Getting For Guidance and Healing: Sanctifying Grace draws us Rarer Bruce Kirshner, Lisa, Ernie & Alice toward Christian Perfection, which t age 32, the Rev. Jarrod Titus, Henry Prince. Ed Blum, Joann, Wesley describe as “a heart Caltrider is living life in full Richard Olson, Boyce family, Thomas habitually filled with the love of God A as a United Methodist K., Jennifer Higbie, Laura Clifford, Luca and neighbor” and as “having the elder. Modonosi, Linda, Jerry, Frankie Scott mind of Christ and walking as he He’s pastor of three small Jr., Michael, Jack Christman, Elenor, walked.” Now, right there I can tell churches in rural West Virginia, and Krystan & Nick, Mark, Sean, John, resides in a parsonage with his wife, you I blew it at least three times Heather Blum, Lucas, Suzanne, Terry Breana, and their 2-year-old, Ella. He today. Family, Cotler Family, Richard, Ahler leads three or four worship services Family, Michael Hoogsteden, Brian The whole meaning of Sanctifying each Sunday and occasionally wades Laube Grace is to be “set apart” and into the Right Fork of Sandy Creek to “made holy” for a special use by do baptisms. These in Rehab or Nursing Care: God. John Wesley took it extremely The work is gratifying, and what Geri Sheridan, Robert Krawzak in seriously when Jesus invited his excites Caltrider most is the growth Brookhaven Health Care Facility, 801 followers “to be perfect as your he’s seen in young families with Gazzola Dr., East Patchogue, NY Father in heaven is perfect” children attending Sandyville United Alice Zahnd in Gurwin Jewish Nursing (Matthew 5:48) Methodist Church, his largest Facility, 68 Hauppauge Rd., congregation. Both Wesley and Jesus did not Commack, NY “We average 72 to 74 in worship, mean that one would be flawless or and that’s increased a little, but two even sinless for that matter. I Pray for our church and her future Sundays ago we had 93 in worship directions! believe, and I think I am on pretty and 33 of those were elementary solid theological ground, that both school age and younger,” he said. Prayer cards are located at the usher’s were encouraging us to steadily “That’s exhilarating.” station at the rear of the sanctuary. mature in our faith so as to make all Young elders like Caltrider — Make a prayer request at of our decisions based on a heart enthusiastic, committed and perhaps PatchogueUMC.com filled with a love for God and better able than many older others—and to have the mind of colleagues to connect with young Christ when making those decisions. families — are getting harder to find in The United Methodist Church. Now, that is something to strive for. The Lewis Center for Church And, by the way, this can only Leadership, part of Wesley happen through the grace of God. Theological Seminary, does an So, I am going to usurp whoever annual analysis of clergy age trends decided to make October 1st “Less in The United Methodist Church, and Than Perfect Day” with a slight its just-released 2019 report shows st edited version. I declare October 1 that the number of U.S. elders under October Birthdays and all of the remaining 364 days, age 35 has declined for three straight Oct. 7 Sophia Capobianco “Less Than Perfect—But We Will years. Oct. 8 Ed Klingel Keep Trying Day”. Continued on Page 4 Oct. 25 Wendy Hollowell —Pastor Chuck Oct. 25 Jim Graham Under 35 (From Page 2) of young deacons (clergy ordained to The Rev. Trip Lowery oversees the As of May, there were 875, down a ministry of word, service, Young Clergy Initiative for the United from 1,003 in 2016, and from 3,219 in compassion and justice), with a Methodist Board of Higher Education 1985, when the denomination was decline of just one in 2019. The and Ministry, and he says that while much larger in the U.S. number of young licensed local anecdotally he’s aware of the This year is not the low point. That pastors increased slightly this year, program’s positive impact, it’s not was 2005, when the number was 850, and the percentage of deacons and possible to quantify how many young and the Lewis Center began to track local pastors under 35 exceeds that of people it has helped move onto the clergy age trends as part of a general elders. clergy track. alarm about the scarcity of young The majority of U.S. elders are age “If I had a number, I wouldn’t elders. 55 or older, the Lewis Center report really trust it, because there are so But the resumption of a downward shows. many things that influence trajectory to a near historic low is The Rev. Ben Gosden is 36 now, so someone’s decision to go into concerning for the denomination’s he’s recently aged out of the young ministry,” he said. future, according to the Rev. Lovett H. elder category. But he’s seen young Lowery noted that the initiative Weems Jr., senior consultant for the elders and elders generally become has created a body of knowledge Lewis Center. scarcer in the South Georgia about supporting young people in “The clergy in some ways match the Conference, where he serves. discerning a call, including the membership of the church in being Licensed local pastors have become importance of relationships with disproportionately older, but it more common there, as they have mentors, especially close to their doesn’t match the people God’s given been in many U.S. conferences. own age. us (to reach), the people in the Gosden believes economics are a He counseled patience, saying it population,” he said. factor, given that licensed local takes time to create a culture of call Elders in The United Methodist pastors typically have a somewhat in the church and added that Higher Church are seminary-educated clergy smaller financial package than elders Education and Ministry will be ordained to a ministry of word, and often are bi-vocational. requesting an extension of the sacrament, order and service, with an “We do have more and more local program from the 2020 General understanding that they will go where pastors,” said Gosden, who leads Conference. sent by their bishop. historic Trinity United Methodist “It’s not going to happen in one Many serve in extension ministries, Church in Savannah, Georgia. “South quadrennium or two,” he said. but typically elders are preaching in Georgia’s a small conference, and Lowery noted a range of factors and leading churches, including the more of our churches are help explain the decline of young denomination’s largest. Elders are transitioning downward in salaries.” elders, including seminarians who eligible to be bishops and district The United Methodist Church want to serve, but not necessarily in superintendents. made a big effort to address the issue a typical church setting. As the denomination has shrunk in of an aging clergy corps in the U.S. “Most are just not feeling called the U.S., the number of elders has when the 2012 Conference created into that traditional robe, stole and a declined steadily.

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