Friday Fives

Statue of King David just
outside his tomb in Jerusalem.

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Lessons from the Life of David. As one of the most beloved characters in Scripture, David can be a great source of hope. David is not portrayed as a perfect, obedient servant. But rather, we get to see his humanity play out from the time we meet him as a young, all the way to his death. We can experience how David separates himself from God, through his thoughts and actions, and identify with those situations in our own lives. But we also get to see the grace of God shine forth as David is continually redeemed and forgiven. These life lessons will allow us to find ourselves in David's story and see how God's grace was not just for David, but it is for all of us. This weekend our focus will be on slaying the giants in our lives as we focus on those things that can and do distract us from God. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Annual Conference Volunteers - Annual Conference is in Lakeland this year on June 13-15. In order for this event to take place we need volunteers. People are needed to serve as greeters, ushers, at guest services, in the expo hall, and the meal packaging stations. If you would like to volunteer or would like more information about this event, please click here. I hope you will consider serving our Conference in this area.

3. Sources of Information - If you are looking for good information about our church, its activities, and/or our denomination, you can always go to our church website. On our website we have the weekly bulletin, monthly newsletter, pages about our ministries and outreach groups, and we have just added two new pages about Relay for Life and our Connectional Life. If have never been to the website, just click here. If it has been awhile, come back and see what's new. This is a great tool to keep us all connected, so click on over and discover something new!





4. Aid for Moore, OK - Continued help for the people of Moore, OK is still needed. Therefore, please keep praying. However, if you feel lead to do more, I want to invite you to consider donating to UMCOR. UMCOR is the United Methodist Committee on Relief. They are a branch of our connection that places people in those communities to bring aid to those affected. One of the many great things about UMCOR is that when you give to a specific relief effort, 100% of your money goes to that area. It is not used for administrative costs, only for relief supplies and assistance. As soon as it was realized that the tornadoes had caused significant damage, UMCOR sprang into action, setting up a donation account, and immediately sending funds to help. They are working right now to send people to the area of Moore once assessments have been made and the needs of that community determined. If you would like to donate to UMCOR, you can make your donation to the church and designate it Disaster Response, United States (#901670). We will then mail one check for all the monies collected and send it off. You also have the ability to donate online if you choose by clicking here, or by calling 1-800-554-8583, or you can make a $10 donation by texting the word RESPONSE to 80888.

5. Bishop's Offering - Bishop Ken Carter has selected three programs to equally share in the proceeds given at Annual Conference this year; Stop Hunger Now, Wesley Foundation at FSU, and Leadership development for young clergy of color. I invite you to consider giving an extra gift to this cause. You can do so by placing your gift in the offering plate, designate it Bishop's Offering, and we will cut one check and give it during Annual Conference this year. If you would like more information, there is an insert in this weeks bulletin or you can visit our Conference Website by clicking here.





Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

I received a letter in the mail today. It had my name on the top if it and it was delivered to the parsonage address. But after reading it, it is a letter intended for each of you as well.

Here is what it says:

The Florida Annual Conference recognizes the special effort necessary for churches to pay 100% ofapportionments and we want to honor your church along with other faithful congregations at the Annual Conference event in June.

Additionally, your Church will be acknowledged in a video that will be displayed on monitors throughout the conference.

We understand it is more difficult today, perhaps more difficult than ever, for churches to pay 100% of their apportionments. Yet there are churches like yours that make paying 100% of their connectional giving a priority. By doing so you are laying up treasures in Heaven, a very important goal in "Becoming Disciples of Jesus Christ," the theme of this years conference.

Thank you, Mickey Wilson Treasurer, Director of Administrative Services

If you have been around a United Methodist church for any period of time you have probably heard the word apportionment. It is the word we use to describe the amount of money each church pays to its Conference Office to help cover some administrative costs, but more importantly, it refers to the monies our denomination collects to give to some very worthy charities. Those charities include, World Service, Black College, and Africa University Funds, to name a few.

I hope that makes you proud to be a United Methodist, it does me. To know that our denomination makes it priority to live out what we preach, to put our words into action, and tangibly make a difference in this world, makes me happy.

This letter I received today was not just for me. It was for all of you as well. When you monetarily give to Druid Hills, through your tithes and offering, you allow us to pay 100% of our apportionments. You are giving us the ability to continue to do our part to make sure the grace of God and love of Christ are felt the world over. Just as Mickey Wilson thanked us for our part, I want to add my thank you to all of you as well.

Thank you for supporting Druid Hills. Thank you for supporting the United Methodist Church. Thank you for helping to spread the Good News of the Gospel to people all over the world.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Lessons from King David: Unlikely People I Samuel 16:1-13 and I Corinthians 1:26-31

Bible Challenge 05/26 - 06/01

Greetings All.

This week we finish up the book of II Kings and begin our journey through I Chronicles.

In I Kings chapters 11-12, the focus shifts to a young boy king in Judah named Joash who spends much timetrying to restore the temple. Elisha dies in chapter 13 and here you also have a rather interesting account of what happens when someone is thrown into his grave months after his death. Talk about the power of the Lord! The downward spiral continues though in the kingdom of Israel, as king after king fails to follow the Lord and by chapter 17 we see that the northern kingdom of Israel has fallen to the Assyrians, with many of the people being carried away into exile. We finish up with the narrative of the lives of the kings from Judah. A few more wicked kings are described before we get to the interesting story of the boy king Josiah and all of his reforms (chapters 22-23). But even he isn't enough to turn the tide of sin and false idol worship. After him, three more evil kings follow before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians (chapters 24-25).

Then our attention turns to another of the history books, I Chronicles, and we will make our way through 10 of its 29 chapters this week. In many ways it should sound familiar because it is largely a retelling of the material found in I and II Samuel as well as I and II Kings. The book of I Chronicles really falls into two broad segments. The first, in chapters 1-10, contains mostly genealogical lists, concluding with the house of Saul and Saul's rejection by God. This sets the stage for the rise of David. The second segment then, in chapters 11-29, contains a history of the reign of King David.

Why so many books telling the same stories? Well in the Jewish canon of Scripture, Chronicles appears last making it then a summary of everything that has gone before and most likely the reason why the genealogy goes all the way back to Adam. But one of the calls of the Old Testament is to remember. God asks the people to remember constantly in their rituals, offerings, and festivals the great work that he has done on their behalf. Certainly we can see what happens in the books of history when Israel (and Judah) do not keep this knowledge of God close at hand and forget! As they stray away from God, they wander into dangerous ground spiritually, as individuals as well as a nation. We would do well to remind ourselves continuously - to remember what God has done and what happens when we try to do things in our lives on our own without Him!

Here is the schedule:

26, Sunday: II Kings 8-11

27, Monday: II Kings 12-15

28, Tuesday: II Kings 16-19

29, Wednesday: II Kings 20-23

30, Thursday: II Kings 24 - I Chronicles 2

31, Friday: I Chronicles 3-6

01, Saturday: I Chronicles 7-10

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.

Friday Fives

Statue of King David just
outside of his tomb in Jerusalem

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are beginning a new preaching series entitled, Lessons from the Life of David. As one of the most beloved characters in Scripture, David can be a great source of hope. David is not portrayed as a perfect, obedient servant. But rather, we get to see his humanity play out from the time we meet him as a young, all the way to his death. We can experience how David separates himself from God, through his thoughts and actions, and identify with those situations in our own lives. But we also get to see the grace of God shine forth as David is continually redeemed and forgiven. These life lessons will allow us to find ourselves in David's story and see how God's grace was not just for David, but it is for all of us. This weekend our focus will be "The Unlikely People God Chooses" as we focus on the calling of little David as the next king of Israel. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. Theseedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.

We will meet this Thursday, at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall, as we finish this study. As a reminder it is never too late to join. For more details, please visit our website by clicking here. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!





3. Summer Newsletter - Your summer edition of the Sunshine Herald will be available for you to pick up this Sunday in the narthex. This year to be good stewards of our time and resources we have combined June, July, and August into one edition. We will resume a monthly edition in September.







4. Aid for Moore, OK - Prayer for the people of Moore, OK is vital right now. However, if you feel lead here, calling 1800-554-8583, or you can make a $10 donation by texting the word RESPONSE to 80888.
to do more, I want to invite you to consider donating to UMCOR. UMCOR is the United Methodist Committee on Relief. They are a branch of our connection that places people in those communities to bring aid to those affected. One of the many great things about UMCOR is that when you give to a specific relief effort, 100% of your money goes to that area. It is not used for administrative costs, only for relief supplies and assistance. As soon as it was realized that the tornadoes had caused significant damage, UMCOR sprang into action, setting up a donation account, and immediately sending funds to help. They are working right now to send people to the area of Moore once assessments have been made and the needs of that community determined. If you would like to donate to UMCOR, you can make your donation to the church and designate it Disaster Response, United States (#901670). We will then mail one check for all the monies collected and send it off. You also have the ability to donate online if you choose by clicking

5. Bishop's Offering - Bishop Ken Carter has selected three programs to equally share in the proceeds given at Annual Conference this year; Stop Hunger Now, Wesley Foundation at FSU, and Leadership development for young clergy of color. I invite you to consider giving an extra gift to this cause. You can do so by placing your gift in the offering plate, designate it Bishop's Offering, and we will cut one check and give it during Annual Conference this year. If you would like more information, there is an insert in this weeks bulletin or you can visit our Conference Website by clicking here.



Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

It seems that we are dealing with these types of situations way too often. It feels like just as we begin to find a way to take a breath, another tragedy occurs and we find ourselves grieving all over again. I am sure all of you have seen the coverage of what happened Monday in Moore, OK.

As a family, we sat and watched a portion of it with Parker and Wesley. They were watching very intently asthe reporters spoke of the size of the tornado and pictures were shown of houses, neighborhoods, and schools that were destroyed by the storm. For my boys, the biggest impact was the loss of the school. School is where they spend most of their time, it is where they see their friends and where they make some of their most important memories. For Debbie and I, the biggest impact we felt centered on the loss of life. As we think about the number of our family growing, thinking about how those families are shrinking, brought us both to tears. For you, depending on your situation and life experiences the impact may have been quite different.

However, we all felt the impact in some way and we were all affected by this devastation. Last night as the boys said their nighttime prayers, Parker asked if he could pray for the people and schools. I know each of you, in some way and at some point, have prayed for these people as well. That is part of what happens to us when we become disciples of Jesus Christ; we reach out and feel the pain of others. I want to encourage you all to keep praying for the people of Moore, OK. This is not something that will be fixed overnight. While the tangible cleanup of homes, schools, and neighborhoods will be completed at some point, the emotional toll will always be felt. So please pray and keep praying.

If you feel led to do more, I want to invite you to consider donating to UMCOR. UMCOR is the United Methodist Committee on Relief. They are a branch of our connection that places people in those communities to bring aid to those affected. One of the many great things about UMCOR is that when you give to a specific relief effort, 100% of your money goes to that area. It is not used for administrative costs, only for relief supplies and assistance. As soon as it was realized that the tornadoes had caused significant damage, UMCOR sprang into action, setting up a donation account, and immediately sending funds to help. They are working right now to send people to the area of Moore once assessments have been made and the needs of that community determined. If you would like to donate to UMCOR, you can make your donation to the church and designate it Disaster Response, United States (#901670). We will then mail one check for all the monies collected and send it off. You also have the ability to donate online if you choose by clicking here.

I ask you all to join me in prayer as we lift up all those dealing with the aftermath of these tornados:

Gracious God, we turn to you now in the names of those impacted by the tornados in Texas. Your sons and daughters are dealing with the loss, the chaos, and the grief of yesterday’s devastation. We know you are there right now, we know you were there yesterday as the storm touched down. Please continue to watch over those people and provide them a sense of your presence and care.

Be with us as we find ways to help; through prayer, through donations, and through our witness. Give us the wisdom and courage to be your instruments of grace and mercy. Show us ways we can reach out to help, words we can say to bring hope, and times we can fall before you and ask for guidance. In all of this and in all ways, Heavenly Father, hear our prayers. Amen.

Have a blessed week and I will see you all on Sunday,

The Fullness of Life in the SpiritJohn 14:8-17, 25-27 and Acts 2:1-21

Bible Challenge 05/19 - 05/25

Greetings All!

This week our reading will have us finishing up the book of I Kings and beginning the first few chapters of II Kings.

As we begin we continue with Solomon's reign as king. Afterwards however, the story starts to turn as thehistory of Israel moves from being one united country into two divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The northern kingdom is Israel, with its capital in the city of Samaria and is made up of the ten northern tribes. The southern kingdom is Judah, with its capital in the city of Jerusalem, and it is made up of the two southern tribes (Benjamin and Judah). The Scripture then becomes a narrative of the lives and reigns of the many different kings in the two kingdoms.

There are a few prominent people and stories in this section. For example, we get an extended look at evil King Ahab of Israel and his interactions with the prophet Elijah in I Kings chapters 17-22. By the 2nd chapter of II Kings, Elijah is taken up to heaven to be with God and the story continues through his successor Elisha as he ministers to the northern kingdom of Israel. Another item of note is that Chapter 5 includes the fascinating story of Naaman's healing.

Here is the schedule:

19, Sunday: I Kings 2-5

20, Monday: I Kings 6-9

21, Tuesday: I Kings 10-13

22, Wednesday: I Kings 14-17

23, Thursday: I Kings 18-21

24, Friday: I Kings 22 - II Kings 3

25, Saturday: II Kings 4-7

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.

Friday Fives

Statue of King David just
outside his tomb in Jerusalem

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are beginning a new preaching series entitled, Lessons from the Life of David. As one of the most beloved characters in Scripture, David can be a great source of hope. David is not portrayed as a perfect, obedient servant. But rather, we get to see his humanity play out from the time we meet him as a young, all the way to his death. We can experience how David separates himself from God, through his thoughts and actions, and identify with those situations in our own lives. But we also get to see the grace of God shine forth as David is continually redeemed and forgiven. These life lessons will allow us to find ourselves in David's story and see how God's grace was not just for David, but it is for all of us. This weekend our focus will be "The Unlikely People God Chooses" as we focus on the calling of little David as the next king of Israel. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.

We will meet this Thursday, at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall, as we look at lessons 5 and 6. As a reminder it is never too late to join. For more details, please visit our website by clicking here. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!





3. Boy Scout Chicken Dinner - Tomorrow, Saturday, May 18th, our Boy Scout Troop will host a carry out chicken dinner here at the church from 12 - 6 P.M. Dinners will be $7 each. Please come on out and support our boys as they raise money for summer camp this year.





4. Ocala Health and Rehab - This Sunday is our week to go and minister to the residents of Ocala Health and Rehab. I want to extend an invitation to all of you to come and join us, Sunday at 2pm. Ocala Health and Rehab is located just down the street from the church on the corner of Lake Weir Road and SE 24th Road. We begin with a few hymns, I give a brief devotion, and we wrap it up with a few more hymns and a prayer. It is a wonderful time of fellowship and spreading the love of Christ. I am sure you will enjoy it and be glad you participated! I hope to see you there!





5. Upcoming Worship - We have two very important services coming up where we are asking for your involvement. On Sunday, May 19th, we are asking that you come to church wearing red and/or white to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday, May 26th, we will observe Memorial Day and would ask that you wear red, white, and blue. Your participation will help to make these worship services more meaningful as we celebrate and honor these events.




Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Are you ready to celebrate? Are you ready to experience a joy that is like none other? The reason I ask is that this Sunday we will gather together to celebrate Pentecost, the “bookend” to the Easter Season.

Pentecost is the fiftieth day of Easter. On that day the earliest church had completed forty days of ongoing teaching from the Risen Lord, followed by a ten-day prayer vigil after his ascension. On this day, that early church began to move out in and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We read about these events in Acts 2. The text is full of imagery and soundscapes: mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire, people speaking in many languages, large astounded multinational crowds. Can you imagine the scene? It would be like nothing you had ever witnessed before! These sounds, the blowing of a violent wind; these images, tongues of fire; and the many languages being spoken all at once, in languages not previously known by those speaking; are not imagery. All of these occurrences are literal. All of these happenings are real and tangible. All of this is being witnessed by those that have gathered around, believers and non-believers alike.

This event was not meant to be forgotten, it was meant to be foundational. Those early believers were being bathed in the power of the Holy Spirit. God poured out the Spirit and everything changed. And those changes were not just for them, but for us as well.

I have been reading a book by Jurgen Moltmann, entitled The Spirit of Life. He describes the Holy Spirit like this, “The Holy Spirit is not simply the subjective side of God’s revelation of himself, and faith is not merely the echo of the Word of God in the human heart. The Holy Spirit is much more than that. It is the power that raises the dead, the power of the new creation of all things; and faith is the beginning of the rebirth of human beings to new life. But this means that the Holy Spirit is by no means merely a matter of revelation. It has to do with life and its source.”

I love the image Moltmann gives, “[The Holy Spirit] is the power that raises the dead, the power of the new creation of all things…” There is power in the Holy Spirit. Power that can and will manifest within those of us that believe and are open to it. The Holy Spirit is God continuing to work in and through humanity and through that relationship allowing us to continue to feel his presence and his power!

Pentecost is not just another Sunday. It is not just another Christian date on the calendar. It is our reminder that God is still at work. It reminds us that there is a relationship between us and our Triune God and the power of the Holy Spirit is still active in our lives. This Pentecost, remember that power, claim that power, live in that power!

Have a great week and I will see you as we celebrate Pentecost together!

As Long As It TakesActs 16:16-34 and John 17:20-26

Bible Challenge 05/12 - 05/18

Greetings All!

This week our reading will have us finishing up the book of I Samuel, going entirely through the book of II Samuel and dipping into I Kings with the first chapter.

The book of I Samuel ends with the death of Jonathan and King Saul. That story continues in II Samuel. In chapter 1, David hears of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan and lifts up a beautiful song of lament over their lives. Chapter 2 finds David being anointed king over Judah and the next few chapters show the problems between the house of David and Saul before David is anointed king over Israel in chapter 5. Chapters 6-8 detail some of the early victories and the establishment of David's kingdom. But chapter 9 is my favorite. It's the story of David and Mephibosheth - one of Jonathan's descendants - and it is a rare story of amazing grace. Read it. Put yourself in the place of Mephibosheth. Read it again and put yourself in the place of David. It's remarkable.

The focus of this latter half of the book deals with the weaknesses and failures of David's reign as king. Specifically we find here the account of David's adultery with Bathsheba and complicity in the murder of her husband (chapters 10-12) as well as David's difficulties with his children and the loss of Amnon and Absalom (chapter 13-20). The book wraps up with some final reflections on David's reign (chapters 21-24).

Next up on the agenda is I Kings. Just as with the books of I and II Samuel, the books of I and II Kings were originally one long unbroken narrative. I Kings begins with the succession of Solomon as king after David.

Here is the schedule:

12, Sunday: I Samuel 29 - II Samuel 1

13, Monday: II Samuel 2-5

14, Tuesday: II Samuel 6-9

15, Wednesday: II Samuel 10-13

16, Thursday; II Samuel 14-17

17, Friday: II Samuel 18-21

18, Saturday: II Samuel 22 - I Kings 1

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.

Blessings,

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we are doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. This Sunday we will look to a prayer that Jesus prayed on our behalf what our response should be to Jesus' request. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!





2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.

We will resume this week on Thursday, May 16th at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. As a reminder it is never too late to join. For more details, please visit our website by clicking here. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!






3. Boy Scout Chicken Dinner - Next Saturday, May 18th, our Boy Scout Troop will host a carry out chicken dinner here at the church from 12 - 6 P.M. Dinners will be $7 each. Please come on out and support our boys as they raise money for summer camp this year.






4. Summer Newsletter - This year, as a means of trying to be better stewards of our time and resources,we are combining our June, July, and August newsletters into one summer edition. If you have any information that you would like to include in this edition, please submit it to the office by next Sunday, May 19th. Thank you!





5. Upcoming Worship - We have two very important services coming up where we are asking for your involvement. On Sunday, May 19th, we are asking that you come to church wearing red and/or white to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday, May 26th, we will observe Memorial Day and would ask that you wear red, white, and blue. Your participation will help to make these worship services more meaningful as we celebrate and honor these events.





Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Last Sunday was an important day in the life of our denomination. It was Announcement Sunday. Each year, there is one day in May set aside where every congregation around the country learns if they will experience a pastoral change for their church. Last Sunday, it was announced that I will be returning for another year.

I am so grateful to the cabinet and to Bishop Whitaker for appointing me here in July 2009. I came in green, never before serving a church as pastor. I had high expectations, I was excited, and I was hopeful, for how our ministry would develop together here at Druid Hills.

You all treated me and my family with such kindness. You shared with me your wisdom, your history, and stories about your families. Over the years we have grown together, tried new things together, and grieved together. Whatever we have gone through we have tried to do it together. As I have the honor and privilege to stand before you on Sunday mornings and lead worship, I get to look out on your faces. I get the opportunity to be reminded of all those stories we have shared and the relationships we have built. But more important than that, I am reminded of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are present within all of you. I see those gifts of mercy, giving, intersession, hospitality, and encouragement, among others. That gives me great hope for our future.

It is not secret that God has blessed Druid Hills with amazing people. He has scattered those spiritual gifts among all of you and now it is up to us. It is up to us to discover and continue to develop those gifts. It is up to us to use those gifts as we interact with each other and our world. It is up to us to create an atmosphere here at Druid Hills where people feel safe to explore their gifts, comfortable to develop their gifts, and accepted as they gain confidence in using their gifts.

After almost four years, I still have high expectations, I am still excited, and I am still hopeful. We have great things ahead of us. We just need to continue loving each other, supporting each other, and encouraging each other. We need to continue to cultivate an environment and create a culture that is based on love and always practiced in kindness. When we treat each other, and those we encounter, in that way that is when our gifts come out. That is when the Holy Spirit can make some wonderful things happen.

Thank you for the last four years and I look forward to what God will do though us in the future!

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we are doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. This Sunday we will look to the peace that comes from the grace of God and what that means for our lives today. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!






2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The

seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.

As a reminder, there will no Bible Study next week, but we will resume on May 16th. We meet on Thursdays at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall and it is never too late to join. For more details, please visit our website by clicking here. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!






3. Moving Forward - The next meeting of our new Moving Forward group will be Monday, May 6th, in the Fellowship Hall at 11am. You are asked to bring a bag lunch and a beverage, as the discussion will center around ideas for the upcoming months. This group is for all of the ladies of our church that have lost their spouse. This social group will give you the chance to share ideas, discuss your faith, and pray for each other.






4. New Member Class - On Sunday, May 12th at 12:45 P.M., I will host a new member class in my office.If you have been attending Druid Hills for at least three months and would like to take that next step in becoming a member of this church, this class is for you! To register for this class, either call the church office at 629-5688, or email me by clicking here. This is a one session get together where we will discuss what it means to be a United Methodist, what it means to be a member of Druid Hills UMC, and offer you a little background on the history of this church. If this interests you, I hope you will make plans to attend.








5. Upcoming Worship - We have two very important services coming up where we are asking for your involvement. On Sunday, May 19th, we are asking that you come to church wearing red and/or white to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday, May 26th, we will observe Memorial Day and would ask that you wear red, white, and blue. Your participation will help to make these worship services more meaningful as we celebrate and honor these events.





Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Bible Challenge 05/05 - 05/11

Greetings All!

This week we will spend all of our time in one of the books of history, I Samuel. It details the history of the Israelites as it details the life of one of their famous leaders, Samuel, who was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. The first seven chapters deal mainly with his birth, calling and ministry, before turning attention to Israel's request for a king, fulfilled in the person of Saul.

By chapter 15 though, King Saul has been rejected by God because of his behavior. Young David is chosen by God and anointed by Samuel as king in chapter 16, then fights the famous Philistine giant in chapter 17. King Saul grows more and more suspicious and paranoid about David in chapters 18 and 19. Then we read about the friendship between David and Jonathan in chapter 20. The remainder of our reading this week details the ongoing hostilities between Saul and David.

05, Sunday: - I Samuel 1-4

06, Monday: I Samuel 5-8

07, Tuesday: I Samuel 9-12

08, Wednesday: I Samuel 13-16

09, Thursday: I Samuel 17-20

10, Friday: I Samuel 21-24

11, Saturday: I Samuel 25-28

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.

Blessings,

Midweek Moment

Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and pre-meal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn,fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.

The above is what I have been including in my Friday Fives for the last several weeks to help describe our current Bible Study series. It is entitled Grace and it is written my Max Lucado, just like the three paragraphs above.

When I read that above description it really got me to think. I have written papers on grace, taken classes centered on grace, talked about grace with other colleagues. But did I practice a “wildness..white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-down” type of grace in my life? Had I been changed, shaped, strengthened, emboldened, softened, and snatched by the nape of my neck by grace?

Grace is at the center of why we are United Methodists. It is one of our core tenets as a denomination. John Wesley spoke at great length about grace and he himself was greatly impacted by the grace of God. God’s grace is something that will change you from the inside out. It takes you as you are and makes you into what God created you to be. Grace is not reserved for a select few or until you understand it, grace is for everyone. Grace comes after you. It changes the way you see people, it changes the way you interact with people, it changes everything about you.

The subtitle to this series on grace by Max Lucado, is “More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”. I want to make sure grace gets you. I encourage you this week to spend time with God, in a quiet uninterrupted space, and talk to God about grace. If you can, find a book about grace, talk to me about grace, begin or continue the process to allow grace to retake you, remake you, and remold you. Do not let your grace be wimpy, do not relegate it to a name or an adjective. Let grace get you, let it change you, let the grace of God, make you into everything God intended for you to be. Grace is life changing and I pray it is always changes yours!

Have a grace-filled week!