Ron's Reflections

UMC: Reflections on KS-Neb Merger

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:13:24 +0000

As the UMC in KS and Nebraska study whether they want to merge into one conference I have a number of questions floating around in my mind. (Starting in Sept 2012 they will be served by one Bishop.) Some of my reflections were sparked by a two part blog of David Livingston.

The task force is trying to focus on the big picture first, like what is the best way to be in mission. They tried to hold off on the more technical questions of the location of bishops office, merging pension funds and changes in health benefits, and other details like these, until the larger questions were answered. The three conferences at their annual meetings clearly wanted more detail on those technical questions before voting next year.

Our mission statement is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” It is right to reflect on whether merging conferences can help us more effectively meet that mission.

But I have a question that may be even broader than the task forces starting point of how to best be in mission. Do we believe in our mission statement anymore? Based not on our high ideals and words, but based on our action, I am not sure many members have any passion for that mission statement.

Our actions suggest we are more interested in meeting the needs or current members than making new disciples. And our actions suggest we are more interested in preserving the institution of the church with more reports and data collection being the solution to everything.

And in my thinking, part of that mission statement is to deepen discipleship of our current membership, but large segments of our current membership do not seem very interested in growing in their discipleship based on participation in worship and small groups, etc.

So how do we refocus on mission and living out our mission? And does taht suggest anything about structure of conferences? Could a merger save enough from efficiencies we could have conference evangelists and other specialists to help us remember our mission? Or what would help us remember?

I keep thinking of a chapter in a Walter Bruggeman book about Forgetters being Rememberers. Maybe that is where we need to start.

Ron

Christ Wounded For Us

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:57:59 +0000

Five wounds of Christ can be identified in the final scenes before Jesus death. The crown of thorns pricked at Christ’s head. A spear pierced Christ’s side. Whips tore at Jesus’ back. And nails punctured his feet and hands. Not a pleasant scene, but we cannot grasp the significance of the cross without reflection on Christ’s suffering.

Because of these wounds, and the suffering of Christ hanging on the cross, we know Christ relates to our suffering, our wounds and our woundedness.

All of us are wounded in some way, some in many ways. Being wounded is part of being human. Some wounds come from our own mistakes or sinful acts, leaving wounds and scars that we must deal with the rest of our life. Other wounds are inflicted on us by others. Intentional or not, the verbal barbs of others wound us as surely as the thorns pricked at Christ’s head. The actions of others can pierce us just painfully as the spear pierced Christ.

As I prepared ash for our Ash Wednesday service, the ash leftover from last year and spoiled, resulting in a tar like substance. As I cleaned up the mess, I reflected on how the ash represents our mortality and sin and our woundedness. If we let sin go unchecked we end up with a mess like that old ash that had not been tended. If we allow our wounds fester before seeking help, healing becomes much more difficult.

That is what Lent is about. Time to check on our sins and woundedness and see what needs attention.

For Christians know that sin and woundedness is only half the story. The message of the cross, that empty cross after Easter when Christ experienced resurrection and overcome his death and suffering, is that we too can experience healing of our wounds. We must seek to move beyond our wounds and to allow God to heal our woundedness. This is possible in Christ where we find reconciliation, healing and new life.

This is the focus of our Lenten series. Come and experience that which is only available at the foot of the cross: reconciliation, healing and new life.

Ron

Dreams in 2010

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:16 +0000

Faith had an incubator group in the church that spent a year in spiritual leadership developement, writing a new Mission Statement and developing an 8 page set of goals with specific strategies that supports the new Mission Statement.

The new Mission Statement is ”

Faith United Methodist Church is a community of faith celebrating God’s grace through worship, faith development, and ministry to the world.”

Now the hard part! The planning is done. And while that process was long and difficult, now the hard part begins. How do we implement this Mission Statement? How to we live into our dreams and goals. While 2009 was a year of planning, 2010 will be a year of doing. Of taking specific action to live out the statement and to take concrete action on some of those goals.

It will be exciting at times. Frustrating at times. Challenging at times. Tiring at times. It will ask us to do better what we already do well; and change some things that need improvement. We have an ambitious set of goals for the next five years and they cannot all be done at the same time. So we will have to discern God’s timing and priority and always be open to changing the five year plan. For this is to be a dynamic living plan not a static document.

And we will be tempted to work on those goals based on our own skill and wisdom. But if we want to succeed, we will need to constantly look to God for guidance and wisdom, power and strength, compassion and patience. And we will need God to supply us with people with a passion and any funds needed to minister in the ways we have dreamed.

Come join us on our journey to fulfill that mission statement. We begin with a new sermon series in January and February that will challenge us to Practice our Faith. Through prayer, faith sharing, rediscovery of our scripture and more.

Ron

Now the hard part

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:00:38 +0000

The new Mission Statement is

Faith United Methodist Church is a community of faith celebrating God’s grace through worship, faith development, and ministry to the world.

Ron

Mission Statement

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:17:05 +0000

A group within the church has been working on a new mission statement and five hear ministry plan for the church. This draft statement will be discussed within the church and then adopted or revised. We will reflect on it in worship on September 20. What do you think;

Faith United Methodist Church is a community of faith celebrating God’s grace through worship, faith development, and ministry to the world.

Does that reflect who we are and who we want to become as a church?

Ron

Missional Words

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:55:13 +0000

The Faith UMC has been going through a spiritual planning process where leaders are trained and the church values, mission, goals, and strategies are established. We have a new draft Mission Statement that was first shared with the church at our Administrative board meeting on August 17.

I am going to tease you just a bit, by not sharing the whole Mission Statement, I will do that shortly.

But I was struck as I reviewed it again this week what strong words it contained.

Community

God’s Grace

Celebration

Worship

faith development

ministry

world

You can probably piece together something close to our draft statement from those words. But before you do that. Stop a moment and reflect on each of those words.

Strong words to live up to as Faith looks to the future.

Ron

There is Hope for Tomorrow

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:41:06 +0000

The Hope for Tomorrow Africa Children’s Choir from Uganda and the surrounding area came through Hutchinson August 4th as part of their swing through Kansas.

Wow! What can you say that would adequately describe them. They certainly lifted my hopes for the future of Africa and the world! The children were from the Humble United Methodist Church school at Kampala, Uganda. This school founded in 2004 takes in orphaned children from Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi. They now have about 250 and dreams of establishing more schools, one in each of those countries.

The choir included 22 children from 5 to 11 years old traveling with 8 adults. The Hutchinson area United Methodist Churches banded together to host the choir and set it up in the Fox Theature, holding 1200, more than any of our churches could handle. I would estimate the crowd at 1150.

The children shook the place up with praise and thanksgiving. Performing 12 spiritual selections that included traditonal African songs, dance and dress. They were in constant motion for about an hour of our 80 minutes together.

I was able to spend much of the prior two days with them as they also took a day off here in Hutchinson. The Hutch churches wanted to be sure we provided excellent hospitality during their stay, but we were humbled by the hospitality that they extended us. We wanted to be a blessing to them, but they were a blessing to us. Thanks yous and hugs for everything you did for them and hugs for just being there. These children come from such difficult circumstances, having so little, yet are the most thankful, gracious, joyful children you will ever be around. They can teach the American church much.

Their pastor encouraged us to come and visit them at the school and help with some construction, medical needs, etc. I hope the Hutchinson area churches can band together again and organize a mission trip.

Still a little dazed from the past two days!

Ron Kite, Pastor Hutchinson’s Faith United Methodist Church

Learn more at these links

News article about the school

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2433457&ct=4411257

photos of the school & Uganda from a traveler

http://scottieo.smugmug.com/gallery/408700_Ev2pk/1/14244659_BW9NB#P-1-12

Crocodile Dock

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:42:30 +0000

We just completed our Crocodile Rock VBS. Wow! We had some good problems to solve. Like reordering T-shirts because we ran out. We reached 50 children during the week with an average attendance of about 38. These numbers are about twice the numbers from last year. I think around 25 adults and youth volunteered at various points during the week.

This was due to having a great team, a great set , and great word of mouth advertising. After the first and second day we continued to get new registrations from families who heard of the fun their neighbors were having.

It was great to hear the church come alive as the sanctuary space was cleared out for VBS. It was refreshing to hear the kids singing, having a great time and learning something about how to live their Christian life. (Fear Not!)

See a few pictures on the website hutchfaithumc.org.

We extend our thanks to the Children’s Theature and the Grace Bible church who let us use items for our sets

Ron, pastor Faith UMC

ReThink Church

admin — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:00:47 +0000

To all in the Hutchinson area:

We are starting a new sermon series at Faith UMC on May 31 that I am calling ReThink Church. This series title has been borrowed from the United Methodist Church’s new promotional emphasis by that name. That campaign asks the question, what if Church were not just a church, what if church were a verb? And what if the “open” in the United Methodist’s slogan was a verb. Bringing deeper levels of meaning and challenge to the thought: Open Doors, Open Minds, Open Hearts.

These type of questions have been rattling around in my reflections as I think about the church and how we need to ReThink church for the emerging generations. Come and think with us as we explore questions and images of the church.

Ron

A Bird and a Lady

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:33:35 +0000

Thump. Thump. I have heard it regularly for awhile now. About three weeks, I think. That is how long a robin has been trying to get into the church. Robin tries the office door, the stained glass windows by the office door, the west door by the bathrooms. I don’t know why it wants in or why it has chosen our little church. Maybe it is praising the creator it sees in the vivid color of the stained glass. But Robin is consistent. Rarely missing a day (and maybe it has never missed a day - I may just have not been around at the right time on some days.)

That has me to thinking. If only us humans would desire to get in the church. And not just the building, but the real church. The church which seeks God, supports each other and serves the world. If only we sought to get into church as much as Robin.

And then the lady. A guest from out of town. Dropped in one morning this week to ask if the church would be open that afternoon if she wanted to pray. Around 3:30 pm she said. I said I would try to remember to leave it open (our office hours are mornings), but if I forgot and a car was here then bang on the door. At 3:15 she comes, prays for about 20 minutes and leaves. She understood church!

She spoke with me briefly. She had a parent at a nursing home in town. She did not desire to share much but I gathered time was short for her loved one. She just needed a place to pray. Asked if she could return over the next few weeks. Sure, anytime, come on in or bang the door if you see I am here. If you are in town on Sunday we worship at 8:30 and 10:45 am. Come and worship our Lord!

A bird and a lady. One wanted in. The other came in to pray. They understand church. A place to pray, praise, connect, heal, serve.

Ron