Cross Connection – November 25, 2014 Thanksgiving Message for Bishop Janice Riggle Huie Greetings to you friends. As we prepare to gather around our tables this Thanksgiving I ask you to reflect with me on the scripture about another table in the gospel of Luke. It's a very familiar text. We know it as the parable of the great dinner. Then Jesus said to him someone gave a great dinner, invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent a slave to say to those invited, come now, for everything is ready, but they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, I bought a piece of property and I must go out and see it. Please accept my regrets. Another said I bought five yokes of oxen, I want to try them out, please accept my regret. Another said I have just been married, therefore I cannot come. So the slave returned and reported this to his master. The owner of the house became angry, said to his slave, go out at once into the streets and lanes of this town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. The slave said, sir, what you ordered has been done and there's still more room. Then the master said to the slave, go out into the roads and lanes and compel people to come in so that my house may be filled; for I tell you none of those who were invited will taste my dinner. What happens at table is extremely important to Luke because, as you know, he tells table stories again and again. He uses the table often as an opportunity to tell the stories of Jesus. Weaving in and out of every one of those table stories is the message that all are welcome at Jesus' table. All. Women, men, children, young, old, in between, gentiles, Jews, people with means, people without means, people who agree with us, people who don't agree. Saints, sinners, the list goes on and on. Tables are made for people to get together. They are constructed to be accessible from all sides. A sofa, only one way in. Most chairs, one way in. A table is meant to be surrounded, and in the hours that people are away from table, the table just stands there and embodies this invitation that says, “Come. Welcome. I am ready.” When I was growing up, virtually every important conversation in my life took place around the kitchen table. I will tell you that table isn't much, not by today's standards. Some of you may be old enough to remember those formica tables with the aluminum legs. Kind of the 1950’s variety. Really wasn't worth a lot then and less now, even if you go to some resale shop and it's classified retro. But what happened at the table - that was everything. The table, of course, was the place that our family shared meals. We shared virtually every meal as family. The table is where we gathered together and each heard from the other, my parents, sisters, what was going on in the day. It was the table where I learned the prices for corn, cotton, cattle. And that sometimes, regardless of what a farmer produced, there was something out there that was bigger and made our life change. At the table, that was when I told my parents that I would be going to seminary that fall. My hope is that your Thanksgiving will be spent at a table with people you love. A table that as Christ urges, is open to all – a table that is a place of forgiveness and sharing. A table where our differences are set aside and we come together in the knowledge of God’s love for us and his 1 Cross Connection – November 25, 2014 command that we love one another. Let this be a time of healing for your family, for our church and for our world. Happy Thanksgiving and May God Bless you all. Congregational Excellence Leaders Become Consultants Committee leaders under the Center for Congregational Excellence want to serve as resources to the congregations across the conference – in their respective areas of expertise. Read about the free stewardship resources available to the local church. One of the quickest ways to bring conversation to a halt in church is to bring up the subject of money. However this is one of the topics Rev. Jeff Powers, Westminster UMC, Houston, loves to talk about as often as he can, hence he serves as the Chair of the TAC Extravagant Generosity Committee within the Center for Congregational Excellence. Notes Jeff, “Our committee has been commissioned to teach about giving as a spiritual discipline, and serve as a resource to the local congregations and our committee is excited to do just that. We are ready and able to help churches understand how and why they should talk about money.” He speaks from his heart -- and from experience. “I did not come out of the womb as a tither,” he admits. “I had to grow into it after studying it in the Scriptures, and being convicted to lead by example.” By viewing the tithe as a spiritual discipline, he says Westminster UMC has developed a giving-centered culture in recent years. “Our congregational giving has gone from the national average of 2.3% (adjusted gross income) per person to 4.88% in four years, and our pledged tithes this year are projected to be 17% higher than last year,” he adds. “I think we are living proof that we have a spiritual need to give, and that casting that vision by examining this spiritual discipline keeps money issues from paralyzing the church.” The Extravagant Generosity Committee has a “portable” training workshop with handouts ready to share with any congregation wanting to know what tithing looks like and how to empower ministry exponentially in this way. He adds, “Churches of any size and individuals on any budget can all start where they are and covenant with God to increase even a percentage a year – to grow toward a tithe. Just think what that will do for the congregation both individually and collectively!” he adds. Coming to a 2015 Lay Training Near You In January of 2014, Jeff led a workshop at the Central South District Lay Leadership meeting and will return, by popular demand to repeat this discussion for Central South leaders – as well as almost a half-dozen other district training events in January. Committee members Rev. C.J. Taylor and Carla Leavelle of Heartspring Methodist Foundation are also trained and ready to be consultants to clergy and lay leaders anywhere in the conference. Adds C.J., “Heartspring Methodist Foundation was created by the Texas Annual Conference to offer financial and stewardship resources. We are happy to provide consultations, materials, literature, annual stewardship campaign leadership and more to help churches and individuals grow in stewardship.” Casting the Vision 2 Cross Connection – November 25, 2014 The Extravagant Generosity consultants have books and links and insight to share so that local congregations can benchmark their giving in the context of their community in hopes of elevating tithing as a lifestyle. “At Westminster UMC we share with members the ministries that are changing lives thanks to their tithes and offerings,’” Jeff shares. Westminster makes it easy to give in several ways and intentionally ties finances to ministry success by celebrating the offering time in worship year-round. Common Questions The book the committee most often recommends is Consecration Sunday, by Herb Miller. The question he is asked most often is if pastors should know anything about the giving records of the members. “Pastors are trusted with the most personal of information in a church setting,” he shares, “so if money is deemed too sacred to talk about, it almost becomes more sacred than God.” He adds, “In effect, pastors are CEOs of nonprofit businesses. They need to know who is most passionate about the church and growing as a disciple -- and who they can continue to thank for their extravagant generosity.” Other Committees also Providing Expertise Dr. Craig Gilbert, chair of the Passionate Worship Committee is also a willing servant when it comes to serving the local congregation in his area of expertise. Jeff Hobbs and the Faith Forming Relationships Team is yet another leader who encourages churches to tap into any resources this team might offer. Rev. Jack Womack and Rev. Christie Hale have also been prepping to share their expertise in Radical Hospitality and Age-Level Ministry. Contact any of these volunteers if you have a question or want to request resources, materials or a training workshop. “The whole idea behind the committees at the Annual Conference level, is to be in support of the local church,” notes Dr. Jesse Brannen, Director of TAC Center for Congregational Excellence, “and our committee members are truly excited about the opportunity to serve others as resources in this new way. The Conference exists to serve the local church, not the other way around.” To reach Jeff for questions or consultations: [email protected]. Youth Leaders Pursue Certification Professional certification to specialize in youth ministry involves Bible training, skill development, experience and accountability. Hear why several TAC youth leaders believe this certification process is important. Youth ministry certification is optional, but well worth the time, according to “freshman” Trevor Barnett who will begin Year 2 of the five-year process in January. “When I hired on at John Wesley UMC in Houston, certification was something I had been wanting to pursue and it was highly recommended by the church,” notes Trevor.