Building Together: Faith, Hope and Hard Work
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������������������������������� ����������� ������������ Building Together: Faith, Hope and Hard Work (This is the first in a series of articles highlighting Arise people and their work on the Arise building project.) When our congregation voted to renovate Ministers the traditional barn on Arise Acres into a Every member Worship Center and do most of the work of the Church ourselves to make it affordable, that implied Pastor lots of work, hours, and sacrifice—sacrifice Don Weatherup of time, energy and money. Sacrifice can be Director of Music viewed as a negative—difficult, annoying, Kevin Griffin and unnecessary. It can also be viewed as a Administrative blessing—a gift, a wonderful opportunity to Assistant give back to God. Dave Russell Many people are contributing to the Building Ministry Center Project. Everyone’s work is needed and appreciated. There are some, though, whose The two Bobs taking a break from 11211 Dexter- their labors Pinckney Rd. donation of time and service on this project far exceeds the norm. Without them, it is safe Pinckney, MI years ago from Ford, he began a home reno- to say, we would not have a church building vation business and considers himself to be 48169 being built today. They are on-site working an all around handyman. He also built a 734 878-1928 in the morning, mid-day, evening and gazebo in Whitmore Lake that he feels is an 734 878-2748 (F) weekends. They give up family time, leisure example of his finest work. We’re not telling, time and professional time and they all www.arisechurch.org but suffice it to say, Bob does not look his actively serve Arise in other ways, as well. Is chronological age, and has far more energy it a coincidence that we find these gifted and than that age might imply. When asked why willing servants in our congregation at a time he likes to work on the church building, Bob when a church home is needed? Their stories says, “I just enjoy building things. I moved speak for themselves. Meet two of them to this area in 1972 and I’ve always had a now—affectionately known by the Building dream to have a Methodist Church nearby. Team as “The Two Bobs”. Being able to help build it is really great.” A Bob Barnard is one of two Team Leaders, lot of folks from Arise know Bob as the lead the senior member of our “Bob” duo. Retired usher and greeter at first service. He and his wife, Joyce, keep busy with their children and grandchildren, who live in the area. Bob is also quite busy helping his family and friends with their own renovation projects this year. Bob Whalen, our other Team Leader, is the second half of “The Bobs” team. Bob is a Journeyman carpenter and has been working Architectural rendering of our new around Arise Acres doing projects for the worship space last few years. His flexible work schedule has continued on pg. 3 Pastor’s Column There has been much said in and you know that he will reward you.” Paul’s advice is the media about a sickness that to consider that everything you do – you do for God. In some believe is increasing in our the same chapter, in verse 17, Paul writes, “Whatever you culture today. The sickness is a say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, fear of commitment. It’s not a new as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” concept. The term “commitment- Interesting isn’t it? Paul quite literally would like us to phobia” was coined 20 years ago consider every action we make to be done as if we were by Steven Carter in his book Men doing it for Jesus. So the next time you take on a heaping Who Can’t Love. Carter’s term for sink of dishes at home, don’t wash them because you Pastor Don fear of commitment refers to the need to reuse them again, wash them for Jesus! The next Weatherup avoidance of long-term partnership time you have a Church Council or and/or marriage, but it is often much more pervasive. committee meeting, don’t go for the For the past two decades many non-profit organizations church….go for Jesus! have reported a decline of participation citing an overall This approach will help you to decrease in the level of commitment of its members. really look at your life with a Webster’s Dictionary defines commitment this way, “the whole new meaning. When we state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally look at life through that lens, it impelled, a commitment to a cause.” helps us to evaluate our commit- Whenever I feel compelled to ignore something I said ments and to prioritize. And it I would do, I think about commitment. Whenever I helps us transform our attitude. attend a committee meeting of the church where I am In this approach, there is no such thing as mundane. the only one who shows up, I think about commitment. Everything is done with a whole new purpose. Living for Whenever I watch the Detroit Lions lose, and then lose Jesus. Every moment. Every task. Every action. It’s all for again, and then lose again, yet I still watch them on Him. television the next week, I think about commitment…my God really does want all of you. Not part of you, all of steadfast commitment to watch, and their seeming lack you. You exist for one reason alone - to bring glory to of commitment to win. God. How do you love the Lord your God will all hour The fact is, we all have many commitments in our heart, mind and soul? It’s a matter of commitment. lives. Marriages. Our jobs. Friendships. Loans. Our lives Fortunately, God never asks us to do anything without contain many commitments. So what about our commit- help. God will help us with that. That’s His promise. John ment to God? How does one balance the commitments of 15:26, “I will send you the Spirit who comes from the everyday living with our commitment to Christ? When Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you Jesus was asked “what is the most important command- and will tell you about me.” ment?” He simply said, “Love the Lord your God with God proved His commitment to you. He sent Christ. Now all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most what about your commitment to God? Colossians 3:23- important commandment.” 24, “Do your work willingly, as though you were serving Wow. Love God will ALL your heart, soul and mind. the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. In That sounds like quite a commitment. How are we to fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and possibly fulfill it? Doesn’t that sound like it might mean you know that he will reward you.” that every one of us should quit our jobs and volunteer Now if only the Detroit Lions would play like they were full time at the church? Is that what it means to be fully playing for Jesus. Lord have mercy! committed to God? Wouldn’t that be giving God our whole heart, soul and mind? Meeting this commitment With you on the journey, seems impossible, but read on. Paul writes to the Christians at Colosse (Colossians 3:23- 24) “Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. In Rev. Don Weatherup fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, PAGE 2 Arise – a United Methodist Church • October 2007 Worship is… Relevant: form and meaning By Kevin Griffin (This is the sixth in a series of articles by Kevin about the worship experience.) Imagine, for a moment, a lit than simply going through the motions, so to speak. candle on a table with china Let’s rediscover the richness of some of our forms and the dishes, linen napkins and soft deep meanings that they can convey to us as we try to music in the background. Now relevantly express our faith in worship. move to a bunch of candles lit on a piano with a flamboyant pianist playing. Next, you see Pastor’s Picks a candle lit on a table with a Over the next few issues, we will feature some of Pastor Don’s bible, cross and flowers. What favorite books and why he thinks they’re a good read. There meanings and images come to are also many good books and videos in the Arise Library your mind in each of these forms collection. Contact Gene Smith for details. of a lit candle? (As we delve into this month’s relevant worship by examining forms and their meanings, we Title: Inside The Mind of the Unchurched will consider a form to be anything that is an action, rite, Harry & Mary symbol, or image.) Author: Lee Strobel Turning towards our worship experience, what meanings I like this book because it does a very good do we give to the forms that we use during our worship job helping people understand the mindset of services? Why do we use certain symbols and engage people who don’t attend church and talks about what the in specific activities? For example, why do we have church can do to attract such people. candles, a bible and cross on a table at the front of the Title: Sex God, Author: Rob Bell worship space? Why is there a bigger cross at the back A wonderfully written, thoroughly thought of the stage? Why do we participate in communion out look at the connections between sexuality once a month, and always on the first Sunday? What and spirituality.