CONTENTS
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
LET THE CHURCH ROLL ON
MERCY
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
WAYS TO SERVE THIS THANKSGIVING
HOW DO WE LIVE OUT GOD’S MERCY?
COMIC
CHRISTMAS AT WHITE’S CHAPEL
AND THEN THERE’S THIS
@1871MAG 2
Cwilliams@whiteschapelumc.com
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Hey y’all, welcome to issue seven of 1871! It’s always amazing to look over the previous issues we’ve released and see the ways we’ve grown, changed and come across the right story for the right time. On that note of change and evolution, I am very excited to announce that 1871 is moving to new hands. With great anticipation and confidence, Cassidy Williams will be taking over as the Editor of 1871 after this issue. You’ve seen her writing all throughout White’s Chapel and she has a beautiful heart for this church, and for Jesus. We are all over the moon that she’s accepted this role and I look forward to seeing what evolution happens under her leadership! For this issue, we are covering a range of topics per usual. Many of these things were placed on our hearts due to the current climate of our community, the beautiful spirit of God in people’s stories, and maybe some things you didn’t know were going on at WC. I have been so blessed to be the editor of 1871 and a part of this team – and I have loved telling each of your stories. As I move from White’s Chapel, I know that God has spoken to me so much through many of you and your faith stories. I am leaving changed in ways that could’ve only happened through this season of my life. I pray many blessings over your fall semester and that you find both encouragement and knowledge in the pages that follow. Some stories might make you consider your current perspective, or behaviors, or just might make your heart burst with tears of joy – all representing the many ways WC and the Holy Spirit challenge us to do the same each day on our life journey. I hope you all will welcome Cassidy with excitement like I am – knowing she will continue to bring God’s glory through 1871. If you have any questions, or stories to suggest, or even just an encouraging word, feel free to send your new editor an email! With all my heart, Emily Keller Editor 3
A CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE:
LEADING IN THE WORKPLACE
P
erhaps your day begins at 5 a.m., with a chipper alarm and an excitement for your morning run. Maybe you even have time to grab a cup of coffee before you leave for work. Or, maybe your day begins around 8:45 a.m., after waking up to find that you snoozed your alarm one too many times. Life isn’t always easy. Dealing with the highs and lows of each day can weigh us down but, if we keep our eyes on what’s most important, ultimately, we won’t fail in what we set out to achieve. Leadership is a concept of responsibility and ownership. Many books have been written on the subject to help people define and achieve success through leadership. While some people may view it as a source of power, others may find the idea intimidating. When I asked people to give me their own definition of the word leadership, I received many different answers. Some people immediately reflected on their own experiences, referring to something they specifically liked or disliked about leaders. But, almost everyone I asked emphasized how important it is for a leader to relate to others. One person thought about it carefully and said, “Leadership is being able to recognize other people’s strengths and organize and inspire them to use them for a common good.” When asked about how Christian leaders should lead, another person said,
“A Christian leader is a leader who follows Christ and demonstrates humility - the opposite of ego. To be a Christian leader is to put others before yourself.” It is important for leaders to inspire others in order to achieve a common goal. People lead by example.
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.” —J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan 4
Leadership is not only an allusive concept. It is built on a verb - lead. Everyone wants to know the key to leading others because they believe it will make them more successful. It allows people to yield more power over others and achieve more in the process. But, do Christians define success the same way? Proverbs 16:3 tells us that if we commit ourselves to the Lord, He will sustain us in all that we do. Some versions say, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” And according to James 4:10, God will lift up those who humble themselves. Commitment to God’s purpose and humility are key in leading others. For us, success isn’t rooted in recognition but instead, in Jesus Christ. He is our victory. We are called to use our talents for His glory - not our own. But how can we do that? We need to remember who we are, both in and out of church. When we wake up every morning, we must try to represent Jesus in the best way that we can. While we might fall short from time to time, God gives us grace. Jeremiah 1:5 states that God knew us before we were even born; He has appointed us, “as a prophet for the nations.” We are called. While that may sound intimidating to some of us, we shouldn’t be afraid. The Lord is with us wherever we are and He knows each and every one of our situations.
One of the most important places we are called to lead others is within our jobs. Whether someone is a stayat-home parent or a CEO of a major corporation, each person has both authority and a destiny in Christ. We are all called to live a life centered on God. We all have a certain sphere of influence. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We are all called to lead - in our families, in our friend groups and in our jobs. We can make a difference if we only submit to God’s will and purpose. Just think of all the things we could do if we let God speak wisdom into each area of our life!
“WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN, OR YOU THINK YOU CAN’T – YOU’RE RIGHT.” — HENRY FORD 5
WAYS YOU CAN START TO LEAD WITHIN YOUR WORKPLACE:
1. PRAY T O GOD
The first thing we should consider, in anything, is God’s will. God has a plan for your life and your co-workers’ lives. One of the most important things that you can do to lead is to submit to God’s purpose. Asking God for His will to be done in your life, your co-workers’ lives and the life of the company, can only yield peace. We must understand that our mission to lead others begins with following. Praying for your specific situations, whatever they might be, will present humility and patience. Changing your perspective may help you have more peace at work. What would it look like if we let God have a say in our work, in our attitude, or in our future?
SCRIPT URES T O CONSIDER:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
1 JOHN 5:14
EPHESIANS 6:18
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us.”
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
ROMANS 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 6
2. HUMBLE YOURSELF Completely humbling yourself to God can be one of the most difficult things to do. It completely goes against our human nature. Usually, we want people to see our hard work and after, we want the praise for our own efforts. As soon as we realize that our efforts are not important without Him, we find a new sense of purpose. We want to have God’s understanding of situations. We want to have the same heart that He has for our purpose, our coworkers, and our company. Sometimes, we may have to face difficult situations but as long as we know we aren’t trying to appease our own wants, we have a whole new outlook and attitude. Human nature tells us to protect ourselves, but God tells us to surrender it all.
SCRIPT URES T O CONSIDER:
JAMES 4:7
JOB 22:21
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”
LUKE 22:42
1 PET ER 5:6
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
“Humbleyourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
EPHESIANS 4:11-15 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” 7
3. LOVE AND ENCOURAGE OT HERS The last thing we will mention to encourage you to lead as a Christian is to love and encourage others. This may sound simple but it can sometimes be harder than you think to put it into practice. It is easy to get frustrated by someone that isn’t treating you well. Reacting to others with love can drastically change the environment in your workplace. Think about it. If someone came up to you while they were angry, and you responded with kindness, it will likely change their perception of how to respond! This is a way to lead wherever you may be. This can also help you encourage others to be the best coworker that they can be. Encouraging others is one of the main things Jesus did and we strive to be like Christ. What would it look like if you responded to and encouraged someone in kindness?
SCRIPT URES T O CONSIDER:
HEBREWS 6:10
HEBREWS 13:16
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
GALAT IANS 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
1 JOHN 14:19-20 “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
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LUKE 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
LET THE CHURCH ROLL ON Cassidy Williams
T
he open road - a blank canvas ready to be painted with the vivid colors of exploration. The wind - a moving force that pushes or pulls you forward. The beauty - seen only through the eyes of someone who wants to find something bigger than themself. It’s an indescribable, spiritual experience. Many people associate motorcycle riders with leather, an attitude that defies authority and, typically, people that use foul language. However, the WC Riders, a White’s Chapel group that rides motorcycles together, redefines the definition of a typical rider. Each member rides with the intention of honoring the Lord and sharing their passion for biking together.
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“When we are out, you know, we tell people that we are a church group - we are part of White’s Chapel UMC and you get all kinds of reactions,” said the leader of the group, Duncan Duvall. “I’m not quite sure how we got together but there are several of us here at the church that like to ride, so I got a list together so that we could do some lunch rides. That’s what we try to do in the spring and fall, we try to put together lunch rides. Sometimes, they’re two or three hours and sometimes, they’re all day - depending on how far we’re going.” The group was initially created about five years ago but members are still actively enjoying the local rides. Over the years, the WC Riders have gone to many different areas in Texas including: Carthage, Corsicana, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Leakey and Strawn. With each ride, the group has met and added more people to the WC Riders email list. They have taken on their own kind of ministry by reaching out to people they meet and sharing their faith. “I have about 25 people on the list and not all of them are members of the church,” Duvall said. “I have added people that I have seen and met on rides. We would get talking, after meeting them somewhere, and I would get their email and put them on the list. It has slowly evolved into a ministry - not only to get to know each other better, but to potentially meet anyone out there that might have that interest and might be drawn back to the church in another way. I always keep these [God is Big Enough] bands with me both in the car and on the bike. You never know when you are going to run into someone that is going to need them.”
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In addition to sharing their faith with others on the road, members often have their own spiritual experiences while riding. Duvall is particularly moved by the beauty he encounters while riding the back roads and through the hill country.
“When you’re out there in it, you see it, hear it, smell it - all the senses are a lot more alert to God’s world when you’re actually out there,” Duvall shared. “You can’t help but feel God’s presence out west. I mean, from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, to all the passes that you go through, it’s just such a spiritual place. You just see it. It’s very difficult to put into words but you just know it when you feel it.” Duvall can still impactful rides.
remember
one of his most
“That morning we got up and it was clear, cool,” he recalled. “We got up early - we always left early - and just as the sun was breaking through the clouds, and the sun was coming up, we started heading out on this two-lane, blacktop road. On both sides, as far as you could see, were wheat fields. The wind was blowing through those wheat fields - amber waves of grain. We were headed to Yellowstone and I will always remember that scene. It was a neat time because… it’s one thing to sing about America, but it’s another thing to ride
through it. To see ‘the shining sea’- I’ve been on both coasts; or to see ‘purple mountain majesty,’ which is the Tetons, or to see the ‘amber waves of grain,’ when you have seen it… it can get emotional a lot of times when you’re out there - especially when I’m leading a group. There’s just something about it and it is very hard to explain.” Over the last 25 years, Duvall has ridden his motorcycle on both coasts, as well as many wellknown areas around the United States and Canada. Most of the WC Riders trips, however, are local. He believes this is easier for people to commit to and enjoy. One of the next big rides the group will go on in the spring will be to Fredericksburg. “For the last four years, I have led a ride to the WC Men and Women’s retreat in Fredericksburg,” Duvall said. “That is always a great ride. The three highways include farm roads 335, 336 and 337 - those are the Twisted Sisters. We always ride those roads and then have lunch at the Bent Rim Grill in Leakey. You could ride that every month and never get tired of it because it is just beautiful
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hill country riding, just south of Kerrville.” With the fall season quickly approaching, Duvall is starting to plan some of the upcoming rides. Most of the trips will just be day trips only lasting a few hours. If people are interested, he may also plan a longer, overnight trip. Duvall hopes more people will join the WC Riders and sign up to receive email updates about riding opportunities. “Anyone interested in riding with us is more than welcome to join,” he said. “No age limit required - you have to have your own bike though. You just need to have your bike and be ready to ride.”
“We went to the spot where Forrest Gump stops running and I thought that was pretty cool… It’s not marked. You have to know the GPS location but once you know where it is, then you’ll see a lot of car tracks where people have stopped. That was a pretty neat spot.” -Duncan Duvall
Every journey is different but with the WC Riders, every journey is memorable. With God at the center of whatever you’re doing, there is no telling what could happen. He is with us all - whatever path we may be on. “You just never know where people will go or where they will end up,” Duvall said. “It’s a pretty neat ministry to be involved in… It’s awfully hard to explain if you haven’t done it. There is just something about being out in the open - the wind… we call it two-wheel therapy.”
Thinking about joining the WC Riders on their next adventure? Contact Duncan Duvall at dduvall@whiteschapelumc.com. He will add you to the email list and update you with upcoming opportunities to ride with the group!
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a scene from the film “Forest Gump” (1994)
OPIOID EPIDEMIC BY EMILY KELLER
I
n the news today,we are constantlyhearing ofchildren, young adults and even older adults, struggling with drugs, where it has led to death. We are seeing an epidemic of opioid abuse in people of all ages – where addiction was never the intention. And we are even seeing the negative impacts of the once-praised tool of vaping. But I think we have the tendency to think it isn’t happening in our community. We think we know our neighbors, our kids and our friends, but addiction doesn’t discriminate – and often, it can hide behind a put-together schedule, outfit and home. Addiction and the overwhelming news coverage of vaping, drug overdoses and opioid incidents are not easy to talk about; in fact, it’s pretty uncomfortable. I believe that the Church has a special opportunity to be the place that welcomes, and leads all to the One who heals and saves. But for us to be those that welcome and help provide support, we must be knowledgeable. There is pain and suffering and burdens happening within the hearts of the young, in our neighbors, and maybe even those sitting next to us at a restaurant or in a church service. Opioids are often used by doctors to treat severe pain after surgeries, sudden injuries, for chronic pain, as well as non-terminal and terminal illnesses. Typically, they block messages of pain to the brain and decrease the perception of discomfort in the body. In regards to the opioid epidemic, the scariest truth is that it can happen to anyone.
“People can go in for a knee surgery, and spiral into addiction afterward.”
“You hear more about orthodontists and oral surgeons being careful about prescribing pain relievers to their patients – because that can lead to an addiction,” explained Susan Kennedy, Director of Chandler’s Hope, our addiction ministry. 13
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), prescriptions for opioids quadrupled between 1999 and 2017 – and so have the overdose deaths. Patients receive them for everything from wisdom tooth extractions to hip replacement surgery. While the opioid crisis is not distributed evenly across the United States, neither geographically or demographically, Tarrant County has experienced over 100 deaths due to opioids in 2017. This drug crisis is considered the worst drug epidemic “in modern American history. In 2017, there were over 47,000 overdose deaths in the United Sates – more than automobile accidents or firearm-related homicides,” explained LiveStories Statistics.
“It is our hope that through awareness and prevention, some families might avoid the nightmare of addiction”
Furthermore, there were nearly 400 youth arrests in Tarrant County for drug possession (ChallengeTC.org). With all of these numbers top of mind, it is hard to deny the fact that this struggle isn’t ‘everywhere else;’ it’s right here and we have the power to step in. Within the last few years, laws are addressing this problem and continuing to evolve to protect patients. According to Harvard Health Publishing, laws vary by state but, “most exempt the use of opioids for chronic pain… For acute pain, the laws typically limit the length of an initial prescription to seven days, although it’s only three days in some states.” While a week may not seem like much, “for almost all acute pain problems, including after surgery, a week is usually sufficient” (Harvard Health Publishing). With this new legislation, many are hopeful in a downtick of opioid addiction and deaths.
“Massachusetts’ opioid legislation was signed into law in March 2016. The overdose death rate then decreased by 8.3% in 2017, the first decrease since the beginning of the opioid epidemic. While it’s impossible to say the law caused the decrease, it’s certainly a welcome association,” explained Dr. Karsten Kueppenbender, an addiction psychiatrist at Harvardaffiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
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And for children, adolescence is a critical time to pour in prevention and knowledge. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “early use of drugs increases a person’s chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain – and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems.” The parts of our brain that helps support good judgment and decision-making doesn’t fully develop until we are in our early to mid-20s – and “using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control.” But when it comes to the opioids, other drugs and even vaping, how can you prevent it from happening to you, your loved ones, or your children? While you might not always have the opportunity to prevent it, I believe you have the power to be a support system and trusted resource for those around you. So what can we do?
Come from a place of love – even when what you’re saying is tough and might be hard to hear. Keep conversations open and honest.
At White’s Chapel, we want to be a resource and hub of support for you and your loved ones. Chandler’s Hope, our addiction ministry, provides answers to those immediate questions of what to do, where to go, and who to turn to when the bottom falls out of life. “It is our hope that through awareness and prevention, some families might avoid the nightmare of addiction,” shared Kennedy.
Foster relationships of trust with those you love – guidance and support can help one deal with all the many pressures in life. Help teach healthy ways to cope to your children and your loved ones.
On Sunday, September 22, we are hosting the Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Texas, Rick Calvert. He will speak on the prevalence of drugs in our area, and the dangerous effects these drugs can have on high school students. Calvert has been the lead prosecutor in a number of multi-year criminal investigations targeting Mexican drug cartels operating within the DFW area. He has also been the lead prosecutor for recent high profile cases in the Dallas area, including the heroin overdose of Rian Ashley in Plano. Parents and students are encouraged to attend this for an informed look at what is really going on in our community. For more information on this event,
Chandler’s Hope chandlershope.org 15
WAYS TO SERVE THIS THANKSGIVING ACROSS THE METROPLEX
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CLICK ON ON AN ORGANIZATION OR EVENT TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE
]
OPERATION TURKEY
This organization started with one man giving one meal to a person in need. From that initial, selfless action, Operation Turkey has grown into a movement that has impacted many different cities in and around Texas. Last year, the organization delivered more than 60,000 meals in 22 cities and seven states. More than 30,000 volunteers participated. This year, Operation Turkey has set a goal of delivering 75,000 meals to people in need. People can get involved by donating to the organization, fundraising within their community, volunteering to deliver or pack meals, or buying their apparel.
MISSION ARLINGTON
Heartfelt mission work was always the focus of this organization. Mission Arlington began from the faithful work and support of the people at First Baptist Arlington. The organization joined forces with Mission Metroplex, formed in 1990, and has been underneath its umbrella of missions for many years. Mission Arlington continues to focus on serving the Lord within the community. Over the course of last year, more than 45,000 families received a supply of food from the organization. Thanksgiving is an important time for the organization because they reach about 6,324 families in just one day. Turkeys and Thanksgiving food items are always needed to pack food baskets for families in need of meals.
OURCALLING
By serving the homeless in Dallas County, OurCalling has worked to provide people with the tools to live a sustainable life. The organization doesn’t only help people with tactile solutions but it also helps people find emotional healing, by sharing the love of God with each person they encounter. People are able to volunteer with this organization all year but during the Thanksgiving season, volunteers are especially needed to serve food and interact with the people that come to the 2019 Thanksgiving Celebration. 17
WHITE’S CHAPEL EVENTS ANGEL FOREST
This WC service opportunity has been a staple for the fall/Christmas season. When it begins, many different trees with paper ornaments will line the church hallways. Participants will be able to choose the area of ministry they are most passionate about and give to that cause. This year, the Angel Forest will go up Nov. 1 and will continue until December. Volunteers will be able to pick out an ornament, that represents a specific person in need, and buy items for it. All items will be gathered at the church and will then be delivered.
TURKEY TAILGATE/ THANKSGIVING BASKETS
This year for Thanksgiving, FaithWorks is smoking turkeys for people in need of a warm Thanksgiving meal. On Nov. 16, people are invited to come and help smoke turkeys while enjoying a day of service in the WC parking lot. This Turkey Tailgate will be complete with college football, food trucks and fun games for the kids! Cooking will begin at 6:30 a.m., tailgating will begin at 11 a.m. and sorting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Volunteers are still needed to cook, provide smokers, and pack and deliver baskets.
For more information on ways to serve, contact our Faithworks department at faithworks2035@whiteschapelumc.com
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HOW DO WE LIVE OUT GOD’S MERCY? By Emily Keller
M
ercy – a word some of us might recognize, but do we truly grasp the impact it can have through our journey? There are so many facets of mercy that it can often be overwhelming, and almost like a far-off word that we associate with the work of Jesus. Mercy can define compassion, loyalty to God’s covenant, love, kindness and forgiveness.
According to the Wesleyan Means of Grace, these individual and communal practices are recognized as ways we can honor God through works of mercy. “The means of grace are ways God works invisibly in disciples, hastening and strengthening; and confirming faith so that God’s grace pervades in and through disciples.”
Growing up, I was taught one simple way to remember the difference between mercy and grace: grace is getting what you don’t deserve, while mercy is not getting what you do deserve. For me, I operated out of this definition only within the confines of my relationship with Jesus. Rarely did it translate to the other relationships in my life, but isn’t that what Jesus calls us to? To treat others the way we are treated by him – and the way we look to treat Him?
When we allow mercy and grace to not just be about the works of Jesus, and for it to be the ways Jesus works through us, our ability to love and shine the light of Christ is multiplied with the power of the Holy Spirit!
“I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:36-40
This November, we will be walking through a sermon series on mercy. According to a recent Barna study completed in August 2018, where mercy is also associated with radical forgiveness, nearly 76 percent of Christians believe they have offered “unconditional, joyful forgiveness to another person who had hurt, upset or sinned against them (or someone they love),” while one in six says they’ve never offered this level of forgiveness, or mercy. When it comes to receiving radical forgiveness and mercy, about 55 percent remembers another being merciful to them – with another 38 percent who say this has not happened. “This stark disparity suggests the perceptions of giving versus receiving unconditional forgiveness may sometimes vary dramatically – meaning, while someone may feel they 19
have extended unconditional forgiveness, the supposed recipient may not feel the same way.” Another thought I had when reading these numbers and the disparity in giving and receiving mercy was the difficulty we can have in forgiving ourselves and receiving that forgiveness from the Lord for our own struggles and iniquities. “Being one who, at one point in my life, was trapped in the prison of unforgiveness (having issues forgiving both someone else – and even more so, myself), my prayer is that we’ll all come to discover the truth of the old saying: ‘To forgive is to set a prisoner free… only to discover that prisoner was you,’” shared Dr. Todd Renner. And as Scripture reminds us in Psalm 103 verses 8-12: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” When we accept God as our father and become a child of God, we are set free! The Lord has set us free – we just have the choice of whether we want to live out of the bondage of unforgiveness, or live freely in the joyous compassion God has for each one of us. Throughout the Bible, mercy can be translated in many ways. In Hebrew, racham means ‘to love or have compassion,’ and to have a disposition of mercy. When we see this outrageous love and mercy from above in our day-to-day lives, it changes our perspective. We find new ways to display that racham mercy to those around us – the tenderness that this world so desperately is in need of.
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The Barna study continued with suggesting that those who experience radical mercy are more willing to forgive others – and that 81 percent believe that offering “undeserved mercy to someone else is an action that God blesses.” Mercy and forgiveness are pillars of Christianity in my mind – those attributes are undeniably Christ-like. And in my journey here on Earth, where I attempt to follow after Him, I still struggle with these – but that’s okay. Submitting these honest struggles to the Lord is where He can work and refine me, and you if that’s where you find yourself today too. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 As we prepare our hearts for our dive into mercy in November, I want to encourage you to search for God’s mercy each day – and for ways you can share that with others. “I yearn for us to be a community that lives in the freedom, mercy, grace and love of God – in ways that change how we encounter and respond to all the ‘neighbors’ around us,” said Renner.
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CHRISTMAS AT WHITE’S CHAPEL
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“
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Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day. Helen Steiner Rice
CASSIDY WILLIAMS
C
hristmas is a magical, exciting and joyous time of year. It’s a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. It’s a time to ‘deck the halls’ and create longlasting family memories. But, more than all that, it’s a time to remember the way Jesus came to the world and recognize the love that God continues to show us. At White’s Chapel, Christmas isn’t just celebrated on Dec. 25. It’s a whole season of reflection, remembrance and joy. It’s a time to come together, as one faithbased community, and thank God for all that He has given us - especially the gift of His son, Jesus. Through many different worship services, services of healing and reflection, joyous musical performances, the Christmas Festival and other familyfun events, people are able to enjoy all the different things the Christmas season has to offer.
Click above to watch the White’s Chapel Christmas Recap
We want to personally invite you, and your family and friends to attend any and all of the following events. Come and join us for Advent, as we reflect and honor our Savior. We hope to see you on campus during this exciting season! 23
ANGEL FOREST Nov. 1 – Dec. 20
WC TRAINS
November 16 - January 8
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Dec. 4 | 2–8 p.m.
HANGING OF THE GREENS IN FOUNDER’S CHAPEL Dec. 1 | 9:30 a.m.
STORY TIME WITH THE BEARS Thursdays, starting December 12/19 10 a.m. bookstore annex
CAROLS, COOKIES AND COCOA Dec. 17 | 6 – 7 p.m.
THE POLAR EXPRESS NIGHT
December 19 | 6 p.m. Trains & popcorn | 6:30 p.m. movie starts
THE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE December 18
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP EXPERIENCE Dec. 14 Dec. 15
5:30 p.m. 9 a.m. 11 a.m. v
CHRISTMAS AND CANDLELIGHT SERVICES
Dec. 23 | 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24 | 11 a.m. (children’s), 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 11 p.m. Bridge services: 4, 5:30 p.m.
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Be on the look out for additional community events!
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AND THEN THERE’S THIS… DEBBIE MCKELLAR
W
hen we first interviewed Emily Keller for her communications position at White’s Chapel, I was numb. Emily arrived just days after the sudden loss of John’s and my daughter, Chandler. At that time, it was everything I could do to put one foot in front of the other, much less come to work and write.
Emily became a go-to for the entire White’s Chapel staff. She helped with newsletters, technology, editing, inter-office communication, and creativity. One day, she decided to start a digital magazine. She thought she could do it so she did. You are reading it now.
Emily owned her job immediately. She was bright, articulate, and sassy, much like my Chandler. She was the first of three young women who came to work in this office and who I eventually came to reference as “my girls.” Along with Cassidy Williams and Kat Ormsby, the girls initially made coming to the office bearable again; morphing into pleasant, and then finally, happy. Their young ambition, energy, and creativity was infectious.
Her feet may be small, but her shoes are big, and we all are wondering what we will do without her. But, when God opens a door to work for a place you’ve dreamed of for much of your life, you open that door and you walk through it.
While Cassidy was heartfelt and Kat was joyful, Emily was, as I said, sassy. She was confident in her knowledge and brought an additional level of professionalism to WC Communications that earned respect and admiration, if not just a little trepidation. Her desk sign read “I am silently correcting your grammar” and while it instantly made me giggle, anyone who came to know her knew it was true!
Godspeed, Em.
We will miss her, and though you don’t realize it, you will miss her too. She takes with her a little piece of our hearts. And we will surely keep a little bit of her with us.
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Thanks for reading! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE ARRIVING MARCH 6, 2020
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