November - December 2016 Interpreter Magazine by United Methodist Communications

United Methodists Living T heir Faith N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

VOTING: A PRAYERFUL ACT FOR ALL

TIME OF SACRED WAITING

THE METHOD OF EARLY METHODISM

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Explore the Apostles’ Creed at Lent and Easter We’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this book and six-week study for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters. Resources Include: • Book • DVD • Leader Guide • Youth Study • Children’s Study Guide

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Contents NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

GRATITUDE & GRACE THE SEASON OF GRATITUDE IS FAST APPROACHING! YES, EVERY DAY SHOULD BE A DAY OF GRATITUDE – BUT COMING QUICKLY ARE THOSE DAYS IN WHICH WE MORE INTENTIONALLY FOCUS ON GOD’S MANY AND NEVER-ENDING GIFTS TO US. EVEN THE CULTURE – DESPITE THE COMMERCIALISM THAT IS THE BASIS FOR MANY OF THE MESSAGES – HELPS US FOCUS ON THAT FOR WHICH WE GIVE THANKS. PARAMOUNT AMONG THOSE GIFTS IS GRACE.

The gift of God’s grace – and how we accept, reflect and extend that grace – is the focus of much of this issue. We focus both on the United Methodist understanding of this grace – what one of our sources calls our gift to Christian theology – and how we live this out daily. Living as instruments of God’s grace is one of the ways we reflect the image of God in which Genesis tells us we are created. In the season of gratitude, may we each consider what this gift means and how we extend it more fully. A second emphasis in this issue is what it means to carry our discipleship into the political arena. When Jesus Christ is lord of our lives, the one to whom we owe ultimate allegiance, the one whom we seek to emulate, that ought to affect every action, every decision, every thought – including for whom we cast ballots. We invited three United Methodist leaders – two from the United States and one from Germany, three who frequently offer different perspectives on the same topic – to offer their thoughts on how our being followers of Jesus Christ affects our behavior in any election season. I hope they will provoke some helpful thinking and conversation as one of the most contentious election seasons in the United States in modern times comes to an end. You’ll also find helpful the article by the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe on our commitment and efforts to secure voting rights for all citizens. In addition, we offer ideas for making Advent and Christmastide meaningful for your family – and yourself – and an idea or two for reaching out to those for whom these coming seasons will be filled more with sadness or regret than joy. Finally, there is the fun feature on the Boar’s Head Festival that United Methodists in Massachusetts have been recreating for more than 30 years. You will find more on the pages that follow – a mixture of heavy and light reading for this season in which we celebrate the gift of God’s grace, the gift of God with us. Wishing you new and memorable experiences of God’s never-ending grace,

THE GIFT of GR ACE 18 THE GIFT OF GRACE 21 ABUNDANT GRACE: A CRASH COURSE 22 LIVING GRACE 24 ABUNDANT GRACE: SOMEBODY CARED 24 ABUNDANT GRACE: ‘CAMP MEANS LOVE’ 25 ABUNDANT GRACE: SQUEAKY-CLEAN GRACE 26 A WESLEYAN UNDERSTANDING OF GRACE 30 GOD’S GRACE: PRESENTED/ REPRESENTED THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS 32 RESPONDING WITH PIETY AND MERCY

Kathy Noble, Editor

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Contents

F E AT U R E S

36 Voting: A prayerful act for all Suffrage is the right to vote – and a series of intercessory prayers and petitions. Both matter on election days.

38 Election Day Communion Taking Holy Communion on election night underscores where our faith lies.

38 Welcome visitors to your church Hospitality abounds when churches serve as polling places.

39 Voting as Christian discipleship: Commentary from Carolyn J. Davis Let compassion, care shape participation

40 Voting as Christian discipleship: Commentary from Thomas Lambrecht 4

Participation in the political process is an opportunity – and a responsibility.

42 Voting as Christian discipleship: Commentary from Hans Martin Renno Sharp, alert, inspired minds needed when considering candidates.

D E PA RT M E N T S

6 Publisher’s Page

Grace: A song for singing

7 Reflections 10 It Worked for Us Christmas morning breakfast; students honored; military families support one another; puppets portray magi

14 IdeaMart UMCOR aiding Matthew survivors; UMC #GivingTuesday is Nov. 29; ‘Get your spirit in shape’

16 ‘We asked ... ;’ ‘You said ... .’ What is your most meaningful personal or family Advent/Christmas tradition?

58 Technology Abandon the screens; focus on the people

62 To Be United Methodist Why do we call it ‘grace?’

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44 A time of sacred waiting Interpreter readers offer ideas for keeping Advent at home.

COVER: Illustration by Matthew McVane/GUILDHOUSE Group incorporating “Return of the Prodigal Son” by Pompeo Batoni, 1773 (Wikimedia Commons)

46 Make Advent a countercultural experience Use Advent ministries to launch new, yearround ministries.

48 A festive end to Christmastide

VOTING: A PRAYERFUL ACT FOR ALL

TIME OF SACRED WAITING

THE METHOD OF EARLY METHODISM

The Boar’s Head Festival has brought a church and community together for more than 30 years.

54 Offering helps students defray higher education costs

SED FUTURE-FOCU MISSION DRIVEN TOGETHER IN MISSION FOR

SAKE OF THE WORLD

United Methodist Student Day is Nov. 27.

56 The method of early Methodism Today’s covenant discipleship groups grew from practices of the earliest Methodists.

60 Index to Volume 60

EXCLUSIVELY FOR INTERPRETER READERS: LINK TO NEW WORLD OUTLOOK AND THE 2016 STATE OF THE CHURCH REPORT.

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

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50 ‘AIDS is not over yet:’ United Methodists continue fight The programs have changed, but ministries for and with people living with HIV/AIDS continue.

Interpreter (ISSN 0020-9678 Periodical #9154) is published six times a year by United Methodist Communications, 810 12th Ave. S., P.O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320; 615-742-5107; www.interpretermagazine. org. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, Tenn., and additional offices.

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United Methodists Living T heir Faith N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

United Methodist Communications, Inc. November/December 2016 Vol. 60, No. 6

United Methodist Interpreter

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Grace: A song for singing

mong all the wonderful things about Christmas, the carols and songs take a special place for celebrating the joy of Jesus’ birth. If you’re like me, you may already have been humming Christmas carols for a while now since retailers keep putting out their holiday displays earlier and earlier. Of all the Christmas hymns, “There’s a Song in the Air” gives me a special smile. It’s number 249 in The United Methodist Hymnal we use at our church. While it may not be as recognizable as “Joy to the World” and “Away in a Manger,” the melodic verses tell of the holiness and majesty of the night that Christ was born. Amid familiar words such as “baby,” “mother,” “star,” “manger” and “Bethlehem,” the fourth verse states: We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng. Whenever I hear the organ and choir really get going as we sing this beloved holiday hymn, the words of that verse often leave me with hope, believing “the song” referenced in the lyric is God’s grace. God’s grace, in the form of an infant, came down through the night from heaven. God’s grace heralded by the heavenly throng of

angels. God’s grace for us to echo in our lives. Friends, grace is the overarching theme of this issue of Interpreter. Stories about grace in the sacraments, grace in relationships, graceful encounters and grace and the holidays fill the pages, along

with an article about John Wesley’s unique emphasis on grace. Indeed, the founder of our denomination had a lot to say about grace. Wesley taught that grace is threefold: prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. He believed that God’s active presence in our lives is a gift, one that is always available but that can be refused (prevenient grace). Wesley also taught that another dimension of God’s grace points to reconciliation, pardon and restoration. Through the work of God in Christ, sins are forgiven, restoring our relationship with God (justifying grace). A third element

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

of grace involves the continual process of our own transformation, growing and maturing in our ability to live as Jesus did as God’s gracious presence leads us to live as God intends us to be (sanctifying grace). Prevenient grace, justifying grace, sanctifying grace – all three dimensions of grace are gifts from God. For many across the globe, we are in a season of gift giving. In the United States, nine out of 10 Americans celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Report. Approximately half of the people throughout the world will celebrate Yuletide either as a religious or cultural holiday. Gifts take many forms, but are almost always a part of Christmas celebrations. We all know of the ones wrapped in paper and donned with bows, but the holidays may be a time to consider gifts of a different sort. In many families, during the final two months of the year, we are more intentional about spending time with one another. Many of our traditions occur around the dinner table as we share the gift of delicious meals. Many people seek out opportunities to help others, either by giving of themselves through volunteering or making financial donations. Friends commonly host festive gatherings, where the gift is sharing time together. Another gift, albeit an

United Methodist Interpreter

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The Publisher's Page

Dan Krause

intangible one, is found in abundant supply during the holidays: grace. In the same way that we typically do a better job of connecting with friends and family during the holidays, we also may find that we are better at being kind, respectful and bestowing favor on others during the weeks that encompass Thanksgiving and Christmas than perhaps at other times of the year. We may be more patient with the long line in front of us at the supermarket or more considerate to the overworked retail employee who’s endured months of Christmas carols. Maybe we smile and wave, instead of beep the horn, at the car that pulls in front of us during bumper to bumper traffic. All of our relationships are better when infused with healthy doses of grace. As we prepare to greet in his cradle our savior and king, let us move through the coming weeks and into 2017 considering how God’s love and grace can permeate the routine of our days. When we have God in our lives, it will put a song in our hearts. My Christmas prayer is that your life may echo the song of God’s grace today and every day. Dan Krause is general secretary of United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, and publisher of Interpreter.

A Forum for Readers

Reflections United Methodists Living T heir Faith J U LY/A U G U S T

More from Wesley I enjoyed the article “John Wesley on Giving” (July/August). We need more articles based on the teachings of John Wesley, which demonstrate how his principles can and should still be applied to our lives today! Wesley Matthews, Strongstown (Pennsylvania) UMC

In reference to “Green light for new hymnal project” (July/August), the leadership of The United Methodist Church should concentrate more on efforts to save precious souls by true preaching of God’s word to a lost and dying world, including God’s unmistakable position on the practice of lesbianism and homosexuality (of) which he clearly states his disapproval. As to the new hymnal, many of the timetested beloved old hymns are having the words changed and more of them appear to be in jeopardy of falling prey to your efforts to please your so-called “new generation of Methodists.” In talking with my fellow members, we much prefer traditional hymns such as “Rock of Ages” and “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.” Hopefully, in your efforts to cater to the “new generation,” you don’t drive out the “older generation” who have supported and been active in the church for many years. Jessie Bayne, UMC, Ashland, Virginia

CONNECTING THROUGH GIVING, UNITED METHODISTS CHANGE LIVES

On actions of GC2016 After reading the article “Four Constitutional Changes Need Ratification” (July/August), I was deeply disturbed at the wording of the proposed “Inclusiveness of Gender, Age” amendment. It adds the word “gender” to the amendment and claims it to mean male and female. Why not use the words “male and female” and not “gender”? This is critically important because the word “gender” can mean so much more than male and female. The NYC Human Rights Commission recognizes 31 gender identities and expressions, two of which are male and female. Some of the others are: gender bender, trans person and third sex. If the UMC wants to include the LGBTQ, please be honest and straight-forward and don’t try to fool the denomination into ratifying a false narrative. If the word “gender” is not replaced with “male and female,” this amendment should not be ratified. Jack Leonard, Cross Roads UMC, North Fayette, Pennsylvania

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LEADING TO LEGISLATION EXPANDS PRESERVE UNITY LOCAL CHURCH OPTIONS

Serving not always easy Pastor Elaine Wing once offered during a sermon that being a Christian isn’t easy. I found this to be true. Many people are suspicious of others who offer assistance. They wonder what is my true motive. I recently traveled miles to help a stranger

who wanted to reimburse me for my time and travel expenses. I told him, “I have already profited from the exchange and to accept money would cheapen my good deeds.” He had been hurt before and was becoming scared, fearing I would ultimately disappoint him. I helped him and enjoyed doing so, knowing I had helped restore his faith in others and showed him by my actions that I was true to my word. I believe God loves us and he is good and kind. When I attempt to walk in faith, love, mercy and kindness, I am brought closer to God! John Bruton, Calvary UMC, Dumont, New Jersey

Useful magazine What a wonderful way to show God’s workings at hand. Interpreter is a very useful and great way to show how we need to share the good news! John (JB) Brown Jr., Pearl River (Louisiana) UMC

Navigating change United Methodists Living T heir Faith S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R

FIVE CLUES FOR SUCCESSFULLY CHANGING WHILE GROWING

WESLEY PILGRIMAGE INSPIRES TODAY'S LEADERS

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CAMPUS MINISTERS PROVIDE A CRITICAL LINK

I was refreshingly reminded by your (Sept/ Oct) edition, that change is a constant way that God continues to create opportunities to share the love of Christ to people that may not have heard or seen God’s love in action. Thank you for reminding us to use change to present

WE WANT Interpreter welcomes Letters to the Editor related to the content of the magazine or other issues of interest to United MAIL Methodists. Letters should be limited to 150 words and include the writer’s name, local church, city and state. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Send letters to interpreter@umcom.org or Interpreter, P. O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320.

A Forum for Readers

Reflections

God’s love to others and to help them realize that change can be good and is part of God’s plan of creation. Jeff Ridings, Christ UMC, Franklin, Tennessee

If creative change is to occur in the UMC, leaders should reflect that their biblical foundation is fully and thoroughly updated (supported by archeological finds). Terms need to be used in such a way that we know we are disciples of Jesus and members actually know what that means and practice what it entails. Leaders must not be afraid to say that the Bible is a rendition of human insights of the divine imperative presence in human life, often revised with different authors even within a single book (like the Gospel of John). Context is important, so no “cherry picking” to prove a point. Besides, there are literally more writings by early followers of “The Way” than we have in our present Bible. (The Rev.) B.B. Mequi, retired, First UMC, Killeen, Texas I enjoyed reading the articles on “Navigating Change” (Sept/Oct) and the ways United Methodist congregations have found to embrace change creatively. While change can be energizing and can promote growth, changes can be damaging and devastatingly divisive, especially if forced onto congregations. I am NOT homophobic, and I do not wish Karen Oliveto any ill. She is a child of God. I do not believe (she) should be serving as a bishop if she is living a gay lifestyle. She is free to marry, but not in The United Methodist Church, per The Book of Discipline.

IF The United Methodist Church is going to change its position on homosexuality, it needs to be done at General Conference and with very careful consideration of scripture. I pray that I will not be put in the position of choosing between standing on scripture and being a member of The United Methodist Church. Jenny Cundiff, Eden Chapel UMC, Perkins, Oklahoma

Questions photo I cannot believe your magazine would use the picture of the renegade bishop as the lead picture in the article about the assignment of bishops (Sept/Oct). What in the world were you thinking? She has broken the biblical teachings, the church laws as stated in The Book of Discipline and her vows she took when she was ordained. You have just rubbed in the mud the noses of every obedient bishop and minister. I believe you owe every United Methodist who reads Interpreter an apology for using such poor judgment and following the PC crowd to the slop trough. Martha H. Berry, First UMC, Campbellsville, Kentucky

Many of us are cringing at the lack of leadership in the UMC hierarchy. There was an openly gay bishop elected in the Western Jurisdiction. Do our leaders not fear God anymore? Does God’s Word and the Book of Discipline that our forefathers followed have any validity any more? The UMC Judicial Council was asked to make a ruling on this election, but nothing was done. This Judicial Council was elected to enforce the Book of Discipline, which should have been done before this assignment was made. The future of the UMC looks bleak unless the leadership

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

steps forward and corrects these issues or a split is inevitable in this denomination. We also fear a mass exiting of members is on the horizon if changes are not set forth. Bailey Wright, New Hope UMC, Randolph, Virginia Ed. Note: The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church meets twice a year and has not met since the jurisdictional conferences. The Council has indicated it will consider a petition from the South Central Jurisdiction concerning the election and assignment of Bishop Karen Oliveto at its Spring 2017 meeting.

Advent thoughts Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. The Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season. While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church now sings the song in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming in the future. I am very ready for the second coming of Christ and I don’t feel that this earth will continue as it is going. Or if he decides it is not my time, I will be waiting, being busy letting everyone know of his coming. Juett D. Stucker Sr., Graefenburg UMC, Shelbyville, Kentucky

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Success Stories From Local Churches

It Worked for Us Churches feed community on Christmas morning

hristmas morning for close to 600 diners in Savannah, Georgia, will begin with a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits, cheese grits, orange juice and a hot cup of coffee. For the seventh year, some 400 community residents and church members will enjoy breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. in the Trustees Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church. Each also will receive gifts,

including a supermarket gift card. Neighboring Speedwell United Methodist Church will host another 100 to 150 people. The first two years there, Trinity cooked the food and helped set up at Speedwell. Now, Speedwell serves its breakfast guests from its own resources. Both churches also invite their guests to worship. The Christmas breakfast ministry began at Trinity with one man’s desire to feed

Honor roll students eat with pastor

aylen Johnson had a big smile on his face as he ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. His pastor was honoring Jaylen and other honor roll students from Asbury Jessup United Methodist Church in Jessup, Maryland. The evening was extra special for Jaylen, who was chosen to pick the restaurant as extra applause for his efforts. Life is not a walk in the park for the 10-year-old who has faced many challenges at a young age. Despite learning challenges, the death of his mother to cancer four

years ago and the effects of his father being diagnosed with a brain tumor, this young man has made the Principal’s Honor Roll every year since 2012. He lives with an aunt, who takes care of him. “It is all through God’s grace,” said the Rev. Gay Green-Carden, pastor. Green-Carden embraced the idea of taking Jaylen and 19 other honor roll students out for dinner to celebrate their accomplishments. Ten children and youth were active in the church when Green-Carden was

“It Worked for Us” is written by Christine Kumar, a freelance writer and administrator, Baltimore Metropolitan District, Baltimore-Washington Conference. Send story ideas to interpreter@umcom.org. Find more “It Worked for Us” at Interpreter OnLine, www.interpretermagazine.org.

homeless men and women in the community. Joseph Smith, a member of Trinity, wanted to give back to the community because he was blessed with a successful, thriving construction business. In 2010, Trinity hosted its first Christmas morning breakfast and Smith paid for the food. More than 200 people attended and left feeling full. The following year, he reached further into his pockets and paid for the food again.

“It’s good to give back,” said Smith. “God has been good to me. The more I seem to do for others, the more my company grows and there is more joy in giving than receiving.” More than 75 volunteers from the church and community cook, serve and clean up. Preparation begins at 4 a.m. “This is a wonderful feeling,” said Smith. “I hope someone will read this story and offer this in their church.”

The Rev. Gay Green-Carden (left, front row) joins young people from Asbury Jessup United Methodist who attended the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s annual ROCK event. Many of the youth have been guests at GreenCarden’s honor student dinners. COURTESY ASBURY JESSUP UMC

appointed to Asbury seven years ago. Within the first year, their number grew to 30. Today more than 60 participate in the ministries at Asbury Jessup. Green-Carden takes the students who make the honor roll each quarter to their favorite restaurants. Their parents are also excited that their pastor celebrates them. Asbury Jessup also has a mime ministry, choir, dance, fun activities, camp, vacation

Bible school and tutoring for the young people. The church is also in partnership with neighboring Guilford Elementary School, where members help pack lunches, give away backpacks and serve as huggers. “I love being a kid,” GreenCarden said. “Our congregation embraces young people and there is energy around this. We are kid-friendly,” she said.

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

Military families support one another

COURTESY NORTHWOODS UMC

onversation and laughter filled the air as more than 110 military spouses gathered at the tables with their children and shared stories while passing the potatoes. The setting was the monthly Deployed Spouses Dinner at Northwoods United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, North Carolina. “We are dealing with our spouses being deployed and how we are coping with this,” said Alyson Schumacher, a social worker and member of Northwoods Church. The church hosts the dinner on the second Monday of every month. Parents can bring their children at 5 p.m. for playtime. After dinner, the youngsters do crafts while their moms and dads engage in conversations. “This provides a safe place for us to be connected,” Schumacher said. “We talk about how The meal and programming benefit both parents and chil- we are managing parenting by ourselves, chaldren attending the monthly lenges we face as our spouses are overseas, and Deployed Military Spouses’ what strategies are used to overcome challenges. Dinner at Northwoods United It’s not a walk in the park.” She recalled nights Methodist Church. when she cried holding her three-year-old in her arms. Knowing others experiencing a similar situation gave her courage and encouragement. The idea to have dinner with the spouses whose husbands and wives were deployed began six years ago when Schumacher and several other women were in a Bible study at Northwoods. One of attendees invited the group for dinner. As the women talked over the meal, they realized that they wanted to get together every month. Schumacher said the dinner gatherings are a way to support one another and validate whatever they are feeling as their spouses are away. “It works,” said the Rev. Jerry Lewis, pastor at Northwoods. “These are God-inspired moments that have a ripple effect.” Lewis, who served as a U.S. Air Force chaplain for 30 years, said the church is central to the military bases in Jacksonville. Many who worship at Northwoods are military families. As attendance at the dinner each month grows, securing volunteers and food can be challenging. The church is seeking grants and other means to sustain the ministry. Most of all, they are trusting God for the resources. “No one is selling you anything,” Schumacher said. “Everyone is welcome, because you have to have community and community is my church where I can ground myself. “My faith has made me stronger.”

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it worked for us

Success Stories From Local Churches

he congregation looked up from the pews to see 14-foot tall puppets depicting the magi approaching the holy family. It was one scene of the Nativity drama “Following the Star” at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. Then pastor of Trinity, the Rev. Theresa Mason wrote and directed the presentation of the Christmas story. The puppets and live actors performing as shepherds and other characters presented the story on Christmas Eve and for other services during Advent 2015.

“The large puppets invite adults to child-like wonder and awe,” said Mason, who has a doctorate degree in theater arts. “The giant magi in all of this bow in wonder before a tiny baby – God incarnate,” she said. Mason recruited the actors, shepherds and teams of people to work with the puppets for the drama. People of the same ethnicity that the puppet represented made each of the wise men, she said. An African artist made the African king, an Hispanic artist made the Hispanic king and an English artist the English king. Each king’s costume also

COURTESY THERESA MASON

Large puppets take the stage

Fourteen-foot puppets portrayed the magi in the 2015 presentation of “Following the Star” at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island, Nebraska.

represented his ethnicity. Mason, who retired in June, began puppet ministry in 1981 at a church she served in California. She also leads workshops in making puppets.

The Rev. Kelly Karges, newly appointed to Trinity, said the “Genesis Group” is planning a new worship service for Christmas Eve this year.

November–December 2016 issue

Religious Freedom: Grounded in Love In the next issue of New World Outlook… n A look at what religious freedom means, both from theological

and humanitarian perspectives n Modern martyrdom n Living the faith in places where Christianity is a minority religion n Grounding principles—freedom for all faiths For tablets and smart phones, try accessing New World Outlook articles from www.newworldoutlook.org, optimized for easy reading. Order this single issue online at www.umcmission.org/store, call customer service at 888-346-3862, or email csc@umcom.org.

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Ideamart UMCOR help continues

leaning up after a catastrophic event like a hurricane or flood isn’t a quick or easy process. At best, it takes months, but sometimes, it takes years. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), United Methodists’ humanitarian and disaster relief agency, is there for the long haul. United Methodists continue at work through prayer, financial assistance, volunteer labor and providing supplies in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew in October, massive flooding in Louisiana in August and in West Virginia in June as well as in South Carolina, Texas and other sites in the United States and beyond affected by natural disasters. HURRICANE MATTHEW – CARIBBEAN, SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm, raged across Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas and the southeastern United States Oct. 4-9. It caused catastrophic damage across the islands, including in some areas of Haiti still recovering from the 2010 earthquake, before making landfall in Florida on Oct. 6. As of Oct. 12, the death toll in Haiti alone was estimated near 1,000. Matthew-related fatalities in the United States stood at 38, mostly from widespread flooding in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina. On Oct. 7, the Rev. Jack Amick, senior director of disaster response for UMCOR,

said the international response would begin with emergency supplies, a water purification program in partnership with GlobalMedic and an additional food-distribution program through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The initial financial outlay by UMCOR for Haiti will exceed $150,000. UMCOR will also assist Bahamas Methodist Habitat with a grant in response to Matthew’s damage there. In February, UMCOR hosted a training conference in Grenada to help Caribbean nations be prepared for hurricane season. Participants put what they learned into effect immediately after Matthew struck. Greg Forrester, head of UMCOR’s disaster response in the United States, was immediately in touch with disaster response coordinators in Florida (www.flumc.org), Georgia (South Georgia-www. sgaumc.org/disasterresponse, North Georgia-www.ngumc. org), North Carolina (https:// nccumc.org) and South Carolina (www.umcsc.org), strategizing how and when to begin disaster relief work in those conferences. FLOODING – LOUISIANA

Officials declared 30 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes disaster areas following massive flooding in August. Estimates say 6.9 trillion (that’s trillion, with a T) gallons of water fell on Louisiana Aug. 8-14. Because Louisiana’s topography is flat, it took two months for the water levels to recede to

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Watch “Baton Rouge: ‘The People of the Flood’” and see United Methodists at work in Louisiana in the aftermath of the August floods. Help is still needed there and in many other places. The Rev. Susan Ferguson (center)

normal. In early October, Louisiana Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey reported that some areas were still accessible only by boat. UMCOR sent almost 5,000 cleaning buckets to Louisiana for distribution to flood survivors. Other items needed for mucking out homes are on the Louisiana Conference website, www.la-umc.org, as is information for volunteers. FLOODING – WEST VIRGINIA

In June, West Virginia experienced historic flooding. Of its 55 counties, 44 were declared to be in a state of emergency and three were declared federal disaster areas. UMCOR sent almost 2,000 cleaning buckets and 1,500 health kits to the affected areas within days of the disaster. Information for volunteers is at http://wvumc.org/About/ Ministries/Disaster-Response. WAYS TO HELP

Prayer is the first, most powerful way to support survivors. Pray as you listen to newscasts and see photos and videos showing the devastation. Understanding that United Methodists with generous

prays with Trent Noel (right) and his son, Jay Barnes, while the two men take a break from gutting flood-damaged drywall. Ferguson is pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette, Louisiana.

hearts want to help with their hands, Forrester gives this advice: “The best ways to help are to assemble and send cleanup buckets and to support the UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response Advance #901670 with your donations. This will allow us to assist the most vulnerable communities in need because of this and other disasters.” The new cleaning buckets will replace those already distributed from UMCOR’s supply depots. People often want to volunteer in person, but that is best guided by timing, rather than desire. “Do not self-deploy,” Forrester emphasizes. “Your presence could unintentionally become an obstacle.” UMCOR strongly encourages churches and individuals wanting to volunteer to go to the UMCOR website (www. UMCOR.org) or to the individual annual conference websites to learn what assistance is needed and how to volunteer. Information will be posted and updated as needs become known. Polly House, editorial assistant, Interpreter

Pray. Give. Assemble. Pray for the survivors of natural disasters, for the families who have lost loved ones and for those working with them. Give to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response Advance #901670 or UMCOR International Disaster Response Advance #982450: Online by credit card at www.umcor.org (click on “Donate”); by telephone to 888-252-6174; by a check payable to Advance GCFA through your church or mailed to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Assemble cleaning buckets and health kits. Find instructions at www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/Cleaning.

United Methodist Interpreter

UMNS/MIKE DUBOSE

Inspiration & Resources

ideamart

SAVE THE DATE!

UMC #GivingTuesday is Nov. 29

n Nov. 29, United Methodists will come together to support the work of General Board of Global Ministries’ missionaries and projects on UMC #GivingTuesday. In 2015, more than 770 missionaries and projects received 8,757 gifts through The Advance, the denomination’s designated giving channel. The Advance is the official channel for voluntary, designated, second-mile giving of The United Methodist Church. Through The Advance, annual conferences, districts, local churches and organizations, as well as individuals and families, may choose to support mission programs or mission personnel with their

financial gifts. One hundred percent of each gift goes as designated. Global Ministries’ staff have vetted and approved each Advance project. “Give Light, Give Love, Give Life” is the theme for UMC #GivingTuesday 2016. This year, consider supporting a project that inspires your spiritual passion. Go to www. umcmission.org/give to learn about projects and to donate. Gifts made through The Advance make a tangible difference in the lives of those served. More information and resources are available at www.umcgivingtuesday.org. High resolution, alreadysized banners for websites, publications, Facebook and Twitter are available at www.umcmission.org/

giving-tuesday/banners. Here are some other ways to get involved: 1. Donate time, say a prayer, or create a non-financial way to support the missionary or project to supplement your financial gift. 2. Insert a flier into your church bulletin and integrate stories of Advance projects and missionaries into meetings or sermons leading up to Nov. 29. 3. Give children boxes to collect money for the project or missionary they are supporting. 4. Raise awareness about UMC #GivingTuesday through your annual conference social media networks. 5. Take a “selfless selfie” holding a sign with a UMC #GivingTuesday graphic

that says, “On UMC #GivingTuesday, I’m giving light, giving love, and giving life. Please join me by supporting __________________ [insert project/missionary name] Nov. 29. www.umcmission.org/give.” Post these selfies on social media and your website. 6. Ask friends and family to make an early Christmas gift in your honor to your favorite Advance project or missionary on Nov. 29. Or make a gift in honor of those on your Christmas list. 7. Send an email to your community network asking for support for The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday. www.umcgivingtuesday.org

Podcasts give the spirit a workout

UMCOM/KATHLEEN BARRY

ou eat right and exercise every day. OK, maybe not, but you do admit it would be a good idea, right? What about feeding and exercising your spirit? United Methodist Communications offers a new way to work those spiritual muscles. “Get Your Spirit in Shape” is a free, 30-minute, monthly podcast that features conversations with leaders, authors and others. Each offers spiritual nutrition and exercise. The Rev. Joe Iovino, a self-described Christian,

blogger, husband, father, motorcycle rider and web content manager for UMC.org, hosts the program. “I like The Rev. Joe Iovino podcasts,” Iovino said. “I listen to several regularly. I see ‘Get Your Spirit in Shape’ as another way of reaching out to people and getting the word out about some great tips and tricks for making their souls as healthy as their bodies.”

United Methodist Interpreter

Guests include writers, speakers and others with expertise in some area of spirit strengthening. All are worth hearing, Iovino said. Podcast topics now available at www.umc.org/podcasts include: »» How to find a faith community in college »» Everyday disciples »» Resisting the urge to freak

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

out when getting a new pastor »» How a 14-year-old girl answered God’s call to give people access to clean water »» Finding your personal sacred space »» When we are really bad at being good. A podcast on Advent and Christmas will be available at the end of November. You can follow Iovino on his blog at www.joeiovino.com and on Twitter at @pastorjoei. Polly House, editorial assistant, Interpreter

Readers respond

”We asked … you said …“ Several weeks prior to finishing each issue of Interpreter, we send a question to all readers for whom we have email addresses, asking them to respond with a short answer of 50-75 words. A select few are included here, edited for length as necessary. Find many more readers’ responses at Interpreter Online, www.interpretermagazine.org. We hope you will join the conversation.

WE ASKED:

“What is your most meaningful personal or family Advent/Christmas tradition and why?”

FOR THIS ISSUE, YOU SAID ...

Each year my sister gives me a Nativity. They take many forms: “traditional” sets, jewelry or an ornament. They may come from the Holy Land or a flea market. My sister once shared the tradition to leave a Nativity out in each room of your home as a reminder of the Christmas spirit throughout the year. Dee Beggarly, Christ UMC, Neptune Beach, Florida 16

My husband, Ray, and I have been hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner at our church for many years. We realized there were quite a few members, like us, who do not have family living nearby. Ray fries the turkey (Cajun style!), and I set the tables and organize the rest of the food with those in our church who drop dishes by. These have truly become family gatherings. Genie Durden, Central UMC, Meridian Mississippi Watching the children’s Christmas program is always the highlight. It’s great to see the children lined up in their costumes, waiting to say their lines. Even though they are impatient, they are without concern, for they know they are loved and are with a forgiving church family if there is a mistake. Children come to understand the story of Jesus. God sent his son to be with us – he loves us THAT MUCH! Debi Dyer, St. Matthew’s UMC, Newbury Park, California We have family Advent night the first Sunday in December (and) make random

acts of kindness calendars. I challenge the kids to take selfies or have their parents take photos to share and mark them #bekind #knowchristsharechrist. The Rev. Tammy Felder, Highland Valley UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas In the 1970s, my beloved pastor brought me from his trip to the Holy Land a set of primitively carved Nativity figures. That very night my husband (now deceased) went out to his shop and fashioned an appropriate rustic stable. I have displayed this treasured tableau every Christmas since. When my granddaughters came along, they were free to arrange and re-arrange the figures – sometimes into unusual settings! Even now, in their 20s, I sometimes see them discreetly adjust my arrangement! Janelle Harvey, First UMC, Mont Belvieu, Texas For me, the most meaningful event is the Christmas Eve service that traditionally ends with the gathered lighting their candles and with all house lights dimmed during the singing of “Silent Night.” It brings out an emotional surge of love and gratitude in remembrance of this holy night. Thomas Helber, Hope UMC, Canal Winchester, Ohio My family always wants to watch “Donovan’s Reef” with John Wayne, Lee Marvin and others. It is about people on an island paradise from different lifestyles, backgrounds, social status, religions, ethnicity, dreams and desires, but

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

pretty much all the same. It tells how they interact with each other and how none of the differences affects how they treat each other. Of course, no John Wayne movie would be complete without a couple of good fights, but they are all in fun. Oh, yeah, the movie is set at Christmas. Paul Norris, Mckendree UMC, Lawrenceville, Georgia Growing up we had two Advent traditions. One was the Advent calendar. Mom would let us take turns opening the doors to see what was behind it. The other was setting up the Nativity scene. Baby Jesus wouldn’t be put in until Christmas Eve. Meantime, we got to fill the manger with straw, getting a piece every time we were good, and having one taken away when we weren’t so good. The wise men and camels were placed far away, being moved a little nearer as we get closer to Jan. 6. Claire Phillips, First UMC, Deming, New Mexico We put a box with a bow and a tag that says “Happy Birthday, Jesus” under our tree. Inside we put notes of things family members have “done for Jesus” during the year like work at a financial crisis relief center, serve food on Thanksgiving Day, purchase presents for parents to give their children for Christmas, visit folks in nursing homes, etc. On Christmas morning after we’ve read the Christmas story, we open the box of birthday presents to Jesus then have a time of prayer. Susan Smith, Fuquay-Varina (North Carolina) UMC

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“Helping those in need is not simply a “Helping in need not simply a matter ofthose charity, but ofisresponsibility, matter of charity, but of responsibility, righteousness, and justice.” righteousness, justice.” The Book of Resolutionsand of the United Methodist Church (Isaiah 58:6-8; Jeremiah 22:3, Matthew 25:31-46) The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church (Isaiah 58:6-8; Jeremiah 22:3, Matthew 25:31-46)

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THE GIFT OF GRACE BY CECILE S. HOLMES

GRACE IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING. IT IS THE DIMENSION OF GOD ACTIVE WITHIN US, DOING FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES. IT IS NOT STATIC, BUT DYNAMIC. IT IS ONGOING.

NOVEMBER â&#x20AC;¢ DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

The Rev. Trevor Hudson

United Methodist and Methodist clergy in the United States and beyond say grace is something we cannot earn, but which we may learn to better understand. “We cannot earn it, but there are things that we can do to open our lives more deeply to it,” said the Rev. Trevor Hudson, author, lecturer and spiritual director. He also works part-time at the Institute for Creative Conversation of Northfield Methodist Church, outside Johannesburg, South Africa. “Prayer, reading scripture, taking communion are called ‘means of grace.’ This is important for us to recognize, otherwise we can become very passive in our life of faith,” he said. Most United Methodists, Hudson said, recognize the power of God that pervades all life. “They may have a more difficult time naming that power ‘grace.’ But grace undergirds our life as followers of Jesus and especially as Methodists. God’s unmerited, unearned, freely given, saturating grace is the core of Methodist belief and understanding.” John Wesley believed that and grace was a focal point for Wesley and early Methodists. They viewed grace as a process and the means by which Christians lived their lives. For them, this lifelong experience was the way of salvation. Wesley practiced and taught three forms of grace: prevenient grace, justifying grace and sanctifying grace. God showers prevenient grace on all people whether they know or accept Christ. It might be

Watch this episode of “Chuck Knows Church” for a simple introduction to the three dimensions of grace.

DUKE UNIVERSITY

COURTESY PHOTO

THE UPPER ROOM

THE GIFT OF GRACE

The Rev. Wendy Hudson-Jacoby

Bishop William Willimon

called preparatory grace. Faith in Christ brings one justifying grace, but such grace cannot be earned through good works. Accepting justifying grace brings new birth in the Holy Spirit, which, in turn, produces the first work of sanctifying grace. In much “Methodist parlance,” grace is a misused word, said retired Bishop William Willimon, who served as the dean of the chapel at Duke University for 20 years and is now professor of the practice of Christian ministry there.

TRANSFORMING POWER MAKES US ‘BETTER’

“I hear in much of Methodist parlance, grace is some sort of affirmative, positive approval by God of us as we are. I think that is a bad misunderstanding of Wesleyan grace,” Willimon said. “In the Wesleyan tradition, grace can be defined as the power of God working in you to give you a transformed life.” In the Gospel of Luke, Willimon said, readers find a grace in line with that way of thinking. God is active in the world and active in individual lives in parables such as the stories of the prodigal son and the lost sheep. “Sometimes I’ll hear people say, ‘Well, where’s the grace?’ And grace kind of means, ‘I love you just the way you are. Promise me you’ll never change a thing,’” Willimon said. “Wesleyan grace is more than ‘you can be better,’” he said. “God’s power can be better than your sins and limitations.”

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Remember that “we don’t pay for grace, manufacture it or earn it,” the Rev. Wendy Hudson-Jacoby said. “Grace, God acting in our lives, is truly free. However, we know that from God’s side, grace is costly. “The cross is a stark response of how costly grace is to God,” Hudson-Jacoby continued. “To give ourselves to God in response to this grace costs us our lives. However, there is a greater cost – the cost of not responding, the cost of non-discipleship. When we don’t respond to God’s grace it costs us peace with God, the peace of God, the joy of knowing that we belong to God, and the power of God working in our lives to accomplish what we simply cannot accomplish on our own.”

ALL INCLUDED IN GOD’S GRACE

Make note of the distinctive understanding of grace in the Wesleyan tradition, said Hudson-Jacoby, pastor of North Charleston United Methodist Church in South Carolina. Other faith traditions spend time emphasizing who is kept out of God’s reign, she noted. But in the United Methodist tradition and understanding of the expansiveness of God’s grace, no one is excluded from grace. “What I especially love about our understanding of grace is that it is surrounding us always, even when we are not aware or even actively denying God’s presence or reality,” she said. “Nothing places us outside of God’s grace, love and mercy. “I also love that we believe the work

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

of grace is forever! Our encounter with God does not end when we experience the justifying grace of God’s love for us as an individual through Jesus Christ. That is just the joyous beginning of our relationship with God. Every moment of every day, God is calling us into a deeper relationship with the Divine – the power of the Holy Spirit is working in us, drawing us ever closer to Jesus and transforming our hearts into his heart and our spirit into his spirit.” For Wesley, even the sadness and uncertainty of life could be purposeful if The Rev. Carl D. Evans understood and experienced in the context of grace. “The best helps to growth in grace are the ill usage, the affronts and the losses which befall us. We should receive them with all thankfulness, as preferable to all others, were it only on this account, that our will has no part therein,” he wrote. Wesley always insisted that there should be a real change in one’s life, says the Rev. Carl Evans, a United Methodist elder and retired professor of the University of South Carolina’s Department of Religious Studies. “You can’t really talk about grace without talking about faith,” Evans says. “For Wesley, faith was not the same as belief. Faith was an assurance or conviction that what God had done through Christ is sufficient to forgive even my sins.” Moreover, in Wesley’s eyes, grace is there for all “in the sense that God’s grace is given to all and that regardless of the condition of humanity that grace is available,” Evans said. “But Wesley would also say that some people live their lives in ways that don’t reflect God’s grace.” Hudson-Jacoby’s favorite biblical illustration occurs in the book of Acts. “The expression of justifying grace is in Acts 8:26-40, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch,” she said.

“We see clearly in this story the progression of prevenient and justifying experiences. The Holy Spirit sent Philip to the side of the road where the eunuch was passing by. The eunuch had experienced God through the scriptures, because he was reading from Isaiah. He was familiar with the power of God and God’s story. When Philip heard the eunuch reading, he jumped in the chariot and offered to explain the reading through the lens of Jesus Christ. All of these actions are acts of prevenient grace.” Through the centuries, Christian writers have wrestled with the subject of grace. It is a frequent topic in the books of Ephesians and Romans. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith and this not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” What matters is that salvation is “not a blessed state that comes after death,” Evans said. “Salvation was a transformed life.” In Romans 5:20-21, grace once again triumphs. “But law came in,” Paul writes, “with the result that trespass multiplied; but where sin increased; grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

FREE BUT NOT CHEAP

Twentieth-century theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer often talked about grace, Evans said. A German Lutheran pastor who actively worked against Hitler, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and eventually executed by the Third Reich. A well-known writer of that era, he differentiated between types of grace. “Free grace is free in that it is unmerited, given by God without qualification,” Evans explained. “Cheap grace, to Bonhoeffer, is grace that is misused. It is offered to a human being, but it does not result in a transformed life. One lives in a selfish way and it becomes cheap grace.” John Wesley’s views of grace landed him into conflicts with other Christians. “Wesley debated with the Calvinists who

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United Methodist Interpreter

were more inclined to say God’s grace was irresistible,” Evans explains. It really had to do with the sovereignty of God. “For Calvinists, the sovereignty of God meant grace was irresistible. But Wesley believed that grace was resistible. For Wesley, grace was the manifestation in the life of the individual who cooperated with God, who shared the divine love that God had shown to the world and was able to reflect that love to other individuals.” United Methodists, Wesley’s theological descendants, share the concept of grace with other Christians, but differ, at times, in how one gets there. “I think that it is a traditional Catholic understanding that grace is what is dispensed by the church in the sacrament,” Willimon said. “While Wesleyans would agree that this is grace, they would also say that grace also works through us in spiritual reading, Bible reading and prayer. In the Reformed tradition, among Lutherans, grace is seen more as God’s positive judgement conferred on us in Jesus Christ.” While grace (or a similar concept) may exist in other religious traditions, it carries a different meaning, said Evans, co-founder of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina and who remains active across faith lines. “I think most traditions talk about the importance of practitioners of a particular religion living a life that displays love of God and neighbor or that shows loving and compassion to one in need. That is very similar to Wesley and sanctifying grace,” Evans says. Grace was of ultimate importance to John Wesley. He once said: “Oh that God would give me the thing which I long for! That before I go hence and am no more seen, I may see a people wholly devoted to God, crucified to the world, and the world crucified to them. A people truly given up to God in body, soul and substance! How cheerfully would I then say, ‘Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.’” Cecile S. Holmes is an associate professor of journalism at the University of South Carolina. She recently received the 2016 George R. Reed Lifetime Achievement Award from the Religion News Association.

A CRASH COURSE IN

GRACE GOD’S GRACE CAN SHOW UP IN THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACES AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

COURTESY PHOTO

For Elise Matheny Eslinger, a worship, music and spiritual formation consultant, this grace literally came crashing into her life on Oct. 8, 1989. As a busy staff member of the Pacific Northwest Conference, preacher’s spouse and mom of a teenager, Eslinger’s life was full. Too full. The demands of her job, parenting and supporting her husband’s ministry were taking a physical and emotional toll; exhaustion was seeping in. Yet Eslinger, also a lifelong church musician, was determined to attend a workshop introducing the then new United Methodist Hymnal at Okanogan (Washington) United Methodist Church serving the Colville Indian Reservation. Eslinger’s daughter rode with her. They stayed in a motel the night before the event. Her daughter remained there to rest while Eslinger drove on to the workshop alone. The drive was uneventful and the event lively and uplifting. “As we sang together, I waxed eloquent about story, theology, meaning and musical style in the many lovely and inspiring new songs found in the hymnal,” Eslinger said. “I especially remember introducing the gathering to ‘On Eagle’s Wings,’ (based on Psalm 91) and ‘Cuando al Pobre’ (When the poor ones who have nothing share with strangers ... then we know that God still goes that way with us.).” At the end of the workshop, an exhausted Eslinger faced a drive back that included several hours over the Cascade Mountains. “I remember thinking, ‘Maybe I should take a nap before heading over the mountains,’” Eslinger said. “That is the

Elise Eslinger

United Methodist Interpreter

ABUNDANT GRACE last thing I remember. I awoke abruptly to find myself jolting along the rocky shoulder of the road, dust everywhere. The car then sailed off the road, headed down a 20-foot embankment, tumbled on all four sides yet landed right side up. All of the glass shattered and the doors compressed shut.” Eslinger remembers holding onto the steering wheel and whispering “eagle’s wings, eagle’s wings” during the sail through the air. When the car thudded to a halt at the bottom of the embankment, she could only whisper, “eagle’s wings, thank you.” Eslinger did not have a scratch, but the car was totaled. Almost immediately, an older Native American man who had seen her car fly off the embankment arrived to check on her. Expecting to find her dead, he instead found her stunned, sitting in the driver’s seat. He carefully helped her get out via a broken window. Moments later, two Native American women and their small children came out of their small cottage — 20 feet away from where Eslinger’s car had landed. The women welcomed Eslinger into their tiny home, offered her water to drink and the opportunity to clean off the dust covering her hands and face. Within 30 minutes the tribal police, a wrecker and Eslinger’s daughter were called. An hour later, Eslinger was back with her daughter at the motel. “On that October day ‘Cuando al Pobre’ became a living memory for me,” Eslinger said. “I also knew that some distinctive changes had to occur. I felt that the providential care of God’s ‘eagle’s wings’ had quite literally saved me from death, and that this ‘saving’ was for something. And that something was not to continue to live the stressed, frenetic, addictive schedule I had been seeking to manage in my ministry and family.” Now whenever Eslinger finds herself slipping into former addictive patterns, those eagle’s wings pull her back. She is deeply aware that the poor ones on that reservation delivered hospitality filled with a profound grace that her frenetic pace could never offer as effectively. “A central word for me for the decades since the accident has been shalom,” Eslinger said. (Her “Shalom to You” blessing is number 666 in The United Methodist Hymnal). “This is the dominant image for life and ministry on behalf of Jesus Christ, not busyness which cancels our very message.” Cindy Solomon is a freelance writer and communications consultant based in Franklin, Tennessee.

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

ABUNDANT GRACE

LIVING GRACE

Gracie and her parents, the Rev. Tiffany and the Rev. D.G.Hollums pose following an Ash Wednesday service.

BY TIFFANY AND D.G. HOLLUMS

GRACE. ONE TINY WORD THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. WE KNOW, BECAUSE GRACE HAS FOREVER CHANGED OUR LIVES.

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Gracie Hollums portrays the blessing of the communion elements.

D.G. and I met in college and D.G. remembers one conversation in which he asked me this question: “Tiffany, what do you think it all boils down to? I think it boils down to love.” And D.G. remembers my saying “God doesn’t have to love you ... and that is grace.” He said that this conversation was life-changing theologically for him because it changed his thinking and his actions in that moment. We have seen grace lived out in breathtaking and humbling ways. We both grew up with parents and in small United Methodist churches that took the covenant they made at our baptisms as infants seriously. They loved and nurtured us in grace. Whether it was teaching a Sunday school class or a note on our birthdays, our lives were impacted in powerful ways through the grace that was lived out before us. Grace. Living grace.

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United Methodist Interpreter

We have seen grace lived out in places and people that have forever changed us. Yet, nothing left an imprint of grace quite like our journey to be parents. We had been married only a few years when we decided, as most young couples do, that it was time to start our family. Yet one year ... four years ... 10 years and still no baby. We saw multiple doctors and braved tests, procedures, rounds and rounds of fertility shots and surgeries. We had to grieve that what we both prayed and hoped for was just simply not going to happen as we had planned. We were barren.

GOD DOESN’T STOP

One night, in the midst of the endless fertility treatments, I woke up and had a deep sense that God was saying something very important. When I woke up the next day I read these words over and over: “Stop. I will do this, so my glory will be revealed.”

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So, D.G. and I stopped. But the grace of God did not; in fact, God had only begun! A friend called me to have coffee and said that God had put on her heart to have a fundraiser for us. Our family and friends surrounded us and threw an adoption fundraiser. We began the adoption process even though we knew that we had exhausted our resources with fertility treatments, and yet, at every step, family and friends gave us exactly what was needed to continue. Step by step of this journey, we were amazed by grace. The grace of God practically poured out for us by those around us. Those moments when we grew weary, they did not. Friends surprised us with a baby shower for a baby that we had no word was coming any time soon . We received the call one day that a birth mother had chosen us. She was due in a month and wanted to talk with us. I will never forget that first phone call with Vanessa, our birth mother, in which I said “Vanessa, I want you to know what you are getting yourself into. See, we did not wait 12 years just to adopt a baby. We want to adopt you.” Vanessa told me that she didn’t understand, but D.G. and I knew that it was no coincidence that Vanessa was brought into our lives. We flew to meet Vanessa a few weeks later and we heard her story, which was becoming our story. We marveled at the fact that the baby God had chosen for us was sitting before us in this amazing woman who was making such a selfless

and gut-wrenching sacrifice. She said with conviction that she knew that we were the parents for this little baby and that the baby chose us. We lived grace as we got the call to come for the birth of a little girl. I stood in the delivery room as the doctor placed a beautiful baby girl into my arms. We each chose a name for this little girl. Vanessa chose Rachael. D.G. chose Trinity, and I chose Grace. Grace Trinity Rachael. Grace does amazing things to us. It makes strangers family. It was grace that blessed us with our first baby shower with Gracie at the inner city mission where I served as the executive director. How humbling to see decorations, food, a cake and gifts that we knew were purchased with widows’ mites out of sheer love for us and for this little girl. Grace upon grace. I hear God’s grace every time Gracie calls her tummy mommy, Vanessa, or asks to pray for her when we pray. I receive God’s grace every time Vanessa calls me to talk about her life and says, “I love you”... words that are deep with meaning for all of us. I share God’s grace every time I tell someone the amazing story of how D.G. and I became parents. Grace in every detail. There are many grace moments in each of our lives: moments that we must cherish and share because it is in this sharing that we realize that God is at work among us. God doesn’t have to love us, and yet God does so powerfully. That is grace. And we are called to live out that grace in practical ways. Each of us has a story of grace to share. You might never know when you are the bearer of the grace in a way that changes someone’s life. D.G. made a deep impression on me early on in college because he would always leave a generous tip for servers and clear the table to help them. And his grace doesn’t go unnoticed because we have seen time and again that waiting tables can be a thankless job and a small thoughtful blessing or note goes a long way. We have had strangers become friends because of the way that D.G. shows grace to those who serve us.

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

BEARERS OF GRACE

Teaching our children to be bearers of grace might seem a daunting task, but children watch and learn how we live out grace to those we encounter. It can be as simple as taking your children to give their artwork to those in the nursing home or keeping homeless care packages in your car to share God’s grace. Children learn grace by seeing us live it out daily. The children at Bee Creek United Methodist Church where I serve were challenged to be “secret agents” of God’s grace and to bless others. One girl surprised her mother by cooking breakfast and packing the lunches and left a simple note of blessing. Simple acts of grace. A powerful prayer practice for me has been to transform the way that I look at Facebook. Instead of reading mindlessly, I read with eyes of grace: asking God to direct me to see those who might need words of hope or encouragement. If you see someone hurting on social media, reach out in a tangible way. There are needs all around us and social media connects us in ways that were unimaginable even a few years ago. The needs are spelled out for us; we simply must have our hearts tuned into see the ways that we can live out God’s grace. I will never forget the one day when I walked into D.G.’s office at church and saw a moment of grace that took my breath away. Gracie was sitting in her daddy’s chair, holding a cup and loaf of bread ... blessing them the way she had seen her daddy do so many times. Grace: the grace that takes each of us from being alone and small and transforms us into hands and feet that share God’s grace with a hurting world. That is grace. Go and live out that grace. The Rev. Tiffany Hollums, a deacon, and the Rev. D.G. Hollums, an elder, are members of the New Mexico Annual Conference. Tiffany is serving as Student Minister at Bee Creek United Methodist Church in Spicewood, Texas. D.G. is the former minister of online engagement at United Methodist Communications.

S OM E B ODY

CARED

THE GRACE, THE LOVE FREELY GIVEN, ILLUSTRATED IN THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN (LUKE 10:25-37) IS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE PHYSICALLY BEATEN – AND TO THE SPIRITUALLY BEATEN. A TRUE STORY FROM THE REV. PAUL SLENTZ’S 18YEAR PASTORATE AT 61ST AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ILLUSTRATES BOTH.

Slentz recalls a particular Saturday night when, as usual, he drove the church van to a park across from the downtown library to pick up homeless brothers and sisters for a meal and worship. “I was glad to see that a young woman and her boyfriend who had come with us for the first time the week before wanted to come again,” he recalls. The woman had a severe disability that kept her in a wheel chair. To and from the church, she joyfully sang along with the Christian songs playing on the radio. That second week, Slentz recalls, “She looked very depressed. But what really hit me and made me feel so bad for her was that she was just terribly filthy. She was wearing the exact same clothing she had had on the week before. The pad she sat on was urinesoaked. Frankly, the smell was so overwhelming that it was hard to sit next to her as I drove the van. She did not sing along with the radio.” Arriving at the church, Slentz explained the situation

to lay leader Brenda Hix. “Without blinking an eye, Brenda took that sad young lady into the women’s room, helped her bathe, clothed her, cleaned her wheel chair and, most important of all, spoke comforting words to her,” he said. “At one point, Brenda had to come out of the restroom just to get some air. After about 15 minutes, the young woman emerged clean as a whistle and with a smile on her face. She then ate supper and joined us for worship. She sang her heart out.” Her “body was beaten down pretty hard, but her spirit was beaten down even more,” Slentz says. “She had been stripped of her dignity, robbed of her pride, beaten emotionally and left half-dead in her despair. “This young woman needed to know that somebody cared. Brenda showed her that.” Adapted from a sermon preached by the Rev. Paul Slentz at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, where he served from 1997 to 2015. NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

CAMP POTOSI PINES

ABUNDANT GRACE

Dominque Skinner (left) joins one of the campers at Potosi Pines Camp.

‘CAMP MEANS LOVE’ BY DOMINQUE SKINNER

CAMP POTOSI LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. I first came to Potosi Pines Camp at the age of 9. I was in foster care and had been bounced around from home to home. Some were not nice places, and I was left feeling lost and unloved. I am so grateful that my case worker knew of Potosi and made sure I got to summer camp. There I experienced a powerful love and acceptance. I knew that I belonged. It was on the last night of camp that I found my faith. Even at nine years old, I could feel God’s love and knew that there was a bigger plan for my life. That faith has helped me to stay positive even when life gets hard. Since then I have been dedicated to God and to Potosi Pines Camp. A few years later my caseworker involved me in the “Counselors 4 Christ” teen leadership program through Potosi. I made some great friends, learned valuable leadership skills and was blessed to be able to serve as a counselor for summer camp. I have served in volunteer leadership at Potosi for the past seven years. Each time I learn something new from United Methodist Interpreter

the kids and other staff! I see now how God placed me at this camp to help reach kids who are struggling like I was. I have been able to love and support so many campers as a counselor. Because I have been there, I can relate to many of their struggles. To me, camp means love. It is a place where there is always love – no matter what. It is a place where you can more clearly hear God and feel that love. Potosi is the place where I feel the most free; free from technology, free from negativity and free from worries. I know that I can impact the lives of other campers, just as the staff did (and are still doing) for me. Dominque Skinner, 21, lives in Arizona where she is enrolled in a community college and working part-time on campus. Tracey Brown, director of Potosi Pines Camp near Las Vegas, Nevada, contributed to this story. She continues to assist and support Dominque. Potosi is a camp and retreat center of the Desert Southwest Conference.

CELEBRATE HUMAN RELATIONS DAY

S QU E A K Y C L E A N

GRACE Caroline Gowan and her mom, Michelle, began Loads of Love by making laundry soap to donate to the food Caroline Gowan began pantry at their church, Bonaire United Loads of Love to earn her Methodist. Girl Scout Gold Award. It is The soap-making was Caroline’s now a ministry of her congregation, Bonaire United first step toward developing her Girl Methodist Church. Scout Gold Award Project — providing quarters and soap at a local laundromat and enlisting volunteers from Bonaire Church to help serve lower income families. Even after she completed the requirements for the award, those involved in the ministry remained passionate about it – and $1,200 remained in the laundry account. “That was how she knew God did not want her to stop doing it,” said Michelle. Soon Loads of Love became an official Bonaire ministry. On the second Friday of each month, anyone who needs clean clothes is welcome to come to the laundromat. “We bring the quarters to operate the machines, detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, baskets and a heart for serving the Lord,” Caroline said. “While volunteers are washing, drying and folding, we sing praise and worship songs for our guests. They come with dirty laundry and TO LEARN MORE leave with a renewed Visit the Loads of Love website at spirit!” http://doingjesuslaundry.weebly.com or Facebook The ministry page, www.facebook.com/doingjesuslaundry. helps Shakika Sneed stretch her budget. A single parent, she doesn’t have a washer or dryer in her home. “I spend anywhere from $20 to $30 washing clothes, and for it to be free is a tremendous blessing to me because it means that money can go on to another bill that I have,” Sneed said. “This is a blessing to me and to the others here.” “I feel like not only am I doing something for the people around me, but that I’m doing something for the Lord,” Caroline said. “I am doing Jesus’ laundry! No matter how big or small, he would do it, and so can I.” Cindy Solomon is a marketing consultant and content writer living in Franklin, Tennessee. Kara Witherow, editor of the South Georgia Advocate, contributed to this story. Read Witherow’s story on Loads of Love, www.sgaumc.org/advnewsdetail/ bonaire-umc-teen-launches-laundry-ministry-1864798. United Methodist Interpreter

JANUARY 15, 2017 Courtesy Photo: Partners In Ministry

SOMETIMES GOD’S GRACE COMES IN THE FORM OF FRESHLY LAUNDERED CLOTHES, SHEETS AND TOWELS. SUCH IS THE CASE FOR THE LOADS OF LOVE LAUNDRY MINISTRY IN BONAIRE, GEORGIA.

COURTESY PHOTO

BY CINDY SOLOMON

Your generous gift today strengthens community outreach and empowers at-risk youth.

Give online at umcgiving.org/givehrd Order resources at umcgiving.org/ss NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

WESLEYAN UNDERSTANDING OF

GRACE

BY KENNETH L. CARDER

UNITED METHODIST COLLECTION/DREW UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

AT THE HEART OF WESLEYAN/ METHODIST THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE IS A PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING AND VITAL EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. While John and Charles Wesley shared an understanding of grace deeply rooted in Christian teaching and tradition, they provided distinctive emphases, which came to characterize Methodist teaching and preaching. Grace, as understood, experienced and proclaimed by the United Methodists and others in the Wesleyan tradition, remains as relevant and transformative in the 21st century as in the 18th century.

GRACE: GOD’S PRESENCE AND POWER

John Wesley (1703-1791)

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John Wesley defined grace as God’s “bounty, or favour: his free, undeserved favour, ... man having no claim to the least of his mercies. It was free grace that ‘formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into him a living soul,’ and stamped on that soul the image of God, and ‘put all things under his feet.’ ... For there is nothing we are, or have, or do, which can deserve the least thing at God’s hand.” The Book of Discipline defines grace as “the undeserved, unmerited, and loving

ABUNDANT GRACE

COUNCIL OF BISHOPS

that God’s grace prevents the total action of God in human destruction of the divine image existence through the in us. ever-present Holy Prevenient grace is present Spirit.” Grace pervades in all creation — in the natural all of creation and is order, in human conscience, in the universally present. relationships and heritage into Grace is not a gift that which we are born. Love of family, God packages and the Christian community, the sacbestows on us and raments, creation itself, the pangs creation. Grace is God’s of guilt, the pull toward a vision of presence to create, what can be are all expressions of heal, forgive, reconcile God’s prevenient grace. and transform human Wesley described prevenient hearts, communities BISHOP KENNETH CARDER grace as the porch on a house. It and the entire creation. is where we prepare to enter the house. Wherever God is present, there is grace! Grace may also be compared to a journey. Grace brought creation into existence. The desire to embark on the trip, the road Grace birthed human beings, bestowed on or trail, the vehicle in which the journey is us the divine image, redeemed us in Jesus to be made and the map to be followed are Christ and is ever transforming the whole all givens or gifts. The beauty of the landcreation into the realm of God’s reign of scape, the mind and eyes that conceived compassion, justice, generosity and peace. the journey and perceive its beauty, even In his sermon “The Scripture Way the explorer who blazed the trail are all of Salvation,” John Wesley summarized unmerited gifts — grace! his understanding of the work of grace in But, there is more to a house than the saving and transforming human existence. porch! There is more to a journey than the The sermon, published in 1765, contains parts of three earlier sermons — “Salvation desire to travel! We must enter the house by Faith,” “Justification by Faith” and “The or begin the journey. Circumcision of the Heart.” In “The Scripture Way of Salvation,” Wesley describes JUSTIFYING/SAVING GRACE: DOORWAY three movements or expressions of grace INTO NEW IDENTITY, NEW CREATION to create distinctive emphases for living Prevenient grace prepares us for fully in response to God’s creating, healing, justifying grace. “Justification,” said reconciling and transforming activity. Wesley, “is another word for pardon. It is the forgiveness of all our sins, and ... our acceptance with God.” Justifying grace is PREVENIENT GRACE: GRACE the assurance of forgiveness that comes THAT GOES BEFORE from repentance, from turning toward One dynamic or expression of God’s grace is prevenience or “preventing” grace. God’s gracious gift of new life. It is being reconciled and realigned with God and the Prevenient grace includes, according to acceptance of God’s atoning act in Jesus Wesley, “all that is wrought in the soul Christ. by what is frequently termed ‘natural Wesley considered justification, or conscience,’ ... all the ‘drawings’ of ‘the justifying grace, as the doorway into the Father,’ the desires after God, ... that ‘light’ house of God’s salvation. God reconciles wherewith the Son of God ‘enlighteneth us to Godself, adopts us into the life, death everyone that cometh into the world,’ and resurrection of Jesus Christ, bestows showing every man ‘to do justly, to love upon us our identity as beloved sons and mercy, and to walk humbly with his God;’ daughters and incorporates us into the all the convictions which his Spirit from body of Christ, the church. time to time works in every child of man.” Wesley’s description of his experience While taking the seriousness of human sin and brokenness seriously, Wesley believed at Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738,

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NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

perhaps portrays the meaning of justifying grace: “About a quarter before nine, while he [the leader] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ. I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Realizing our identity and worth as being rooted in the one to whom we belong is the essence of justifying grace. To accept that identity is to enter the doorway into a whole new existence. It is an identity we can never earn, nor can it be taken from us. Continuing the analogy of the house, justifying grace is the doorway and the process of walking through it. The door is open with a welcome sign on it. If grace is compared to a journey, there comes a time when the traveler packs the bags, joins the guide and sets out toward the destination. That is justifying grace, turning toward a new future.

SANCTIFYING GRACE: GRACE PERFECTING US

Wesley’s understanding of grace moves beyond forgiveness and acceptance of our identity as beloved children of God. God’s goal for humanity is the complete restoration of the divine image and the conformity of all creation to the image of Jesus Christ. Sanctification (from sanctus, holy) denotes the process by which the believer is made holy and whole in response to justification. The Book of Discipline states: “We hold that the wonder of God’s acceptance and pardon do not end God’s saving work, which continues to nurture our growth in grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to increase in the knowledge and love of God and in love for our neighbor.” If prevenient grace is the porch of the house of grace and justifying grace is the doorway, sanctifying grace represents the rooms in the expansive dwelling of God’s presence with and purposes for humanity. Wesley affirmed that God’s grace seeks nothing less than a new creation in the

ABUNDANT GRACE

likeness of Jesus Christ. Sanctifying grace is God’s freely given presence and power to restore the fullness of God’s image in which we are created. Wesley talked about sanctification in terms of Christian perfection by which he means entire “holiness of heart and life.” In a sermon entitled “Christian Perfection,” Wesley declared that Christian perfection does not imply Christians are exempt from ignorance, making mistakes, infirmities or being tempted. He affirmed perfection as another term for holiness. Sanctification, then, is the continuing process of being made perfect in love and of removing the desire to sin. As The Book of Discipline affirms, “While the grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as ‘prevenient grace,’ continues in ‘justifying grace,’ and is brought to fruition in ‘sanctifying grace.’” God’s unmerited favor is before us, is present with us and is ever working to restore the divine image and transform the entire cosmos into God’s reign in Jesus Christ.

GROWING IN GRACE

Grace involves both gift and response. Our identity as sons and daughters of God is God’s gift to us. Living in the world as redeemed children of God is our gift to God. Justifying grace reconciles us to God, incorporates us into the body of Christ and sets us on the journey toward wholeness. Sanctifying grace continuously forms us in the likeness of Christ and sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts, our actions and our relationships. Wesley affirmed that God’s grace is universally present in all and irresistible in none. Although God’s presence and power to create, forgive, reconcile and transform are universally and persistently present, we can resist God’s gracious presence and work in us and the world. The freedom to say “no” to the invitation to be reconciled and transformed remains. Contrary to the Calvinists of his time, Wesley affirmed that we can lose our responsiveness to grace and thereby “backslide” or shut ourselves off from God’s grace. Still, God’s grace remains steadfast, ever blessing, sustaining and beckoning us toward wholeness and salvation.

In other words, we grow in Christlikeness as we open our lives to God’s presence and power at work in us and the world. Growing in grace and discipleship cannot be done within our own strength. The One who invites us on the journey toward the fullness of grace accompanies us and supplies our needs. The God who liberates us and gives us a new future enables us to live toward that new creation by providing means by which we can grow in grace. The early Methodists devoted themselves to pursuing holiness of heart and life by practicing the “General Rules for the United Societies.” Continuation in the societies required that the members demonstrate their desire for salvation, “First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind. ... Secondly, by doing good: by being merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, ... Thirdly, by attending upon all the ordinances of God” (The Book of Discipline 2012, 78-79). The Methodists gathered in small groups of classes and bands to “watch over one another in love,” to support one another in growing in grace by avoiding evil, doing good and practicing “means of grace.” These means of grace are named in the General Rules: »» The public worship of God »» The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded

TO LEARN MORE

In developing this article, Bishop Kenneth Carder drew on these references: »» The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012 (The United Methodist Publishing House, 2012) »» The Works of John Wesley, Volume 1, edited by Albert C. Outler (Abingdon Press, 1984) »» The Works of John Wesley, Volume 2, edited by Albert C. Outler (Abingdon Press, 1984) »» The Works of John Wesley, Volume 18, edited by W. Reginald Ward and Richard P. Heitzenrater (Abingdon Press, 1988)

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United Methodist Interpreter

»» »» »» »»

The supper of the Lord Family and private prayer Searching the scriptures Fasting or abstinence Additionally, John Wesley identified “Christian conferencing” or Christian conversation, as well as acts of mercy and compassion, as means of growing in grace. All of these are gifts by which we grow in friendship with Christ. Through them, we express our devotion and open our lives to the presence and power of God to transform us and the world. They become means by which we are nourished in grace and grow in love for God and neighbor.

CONCLUSION

The fullness of the Wesleyan understanding and experience of grace is expressed beautifully in the beloved hymn of Charles Wesley, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”: Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast! Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee; changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise. Bishop Kenneth L. Carder (retired) served the Nashville and Mississippi areas. He began his retirement in September 2004 as professor of the practice of pastoral formation at Duke Divinity School. He now lives in Chapin, South Carolina, where he serves as chaplain in a memory care unit.

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WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

The Rev. Gina Campbell presides at a celebration of the Eucharist at the National Cathedral in Washington, where she served as canon precentor for eight years.

GOD’S GRACE: PRESENTED/RE-PRESENTED THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS BY ERIK ALSGAARD

THEY ARE RITUALS AS OLD AS CHRISTIANITY ITSELF. A PASTOR TAKES BREAD AND CUP, RECOUNTS GOD’S SAVING ACTIVITIES, GIVES THANKS AND SERVES THE PEOPLE. A PERSON, OFTEN AN INFANT, IS IMMERSED OR DOUSED WITH WATER AND BECOMES PART OF GOD’S FAMILY. Communion and baptism are the two sacraments in The United Methodist Church; they happen thousands of times every year. In these moments, United Methodists claim that God’s grace is present. But how? What is that grace doing, and what is it doing in/for/to us? The Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of worship resources for Discipleship Ministries, said that for John Wesley and for Anglican theologians before him, the sacraments were an instituted means of grace. “In other words, Jesus said, ‘Do these things and the Spirit will be active in these ways in your life,’” Burton-Edwards said. “Jesus left these for us as a means of continuing to abide in him and abide in the grace and the love of God.” Abiding is the work of the sacrament of Holy Communion, he said, while baptism

is initiatory, bringing us in to the body of Christ. Here, grace is both prevenient – that is God “wooing us (into relationship with God) without us even being aware of it,” he said, and justifying. “Part of our ritual is, and has been for a very long time, that we would be cleansed from sin” in baptism. “That cleansing from sin is through justifying grace,” or bringing one’s self into a right relationship with God, which then leads us to the third form of grace, sanctifying. Sanctifying grace is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to make us holy, The Rev. Mark Stamm Burton-Edwards said, “to move us toward perfection in love in this life.” PERKINS SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

BECAUSE GOD FIRST LOVED US

God’s grace is not only biblical, it’s everywhere, said the Rev. Karen

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United Methodist Interpreter

Westerfield Tucker, professor of worship at Boston University’s School of Theology. Referring to 1 John 4:19, “We love because God first loved us,” she said. “All grace is prevenient; it is God’s actions toward us because of our inability to save ourselves.” Westerfield Tucker noted both By Water and the Spirit, a document first adopted by The United Methodist Church in 1996 about baptism, and This Holy Mystery, a statement about Holy Communion adopted by the 2004 General Conference, note “God is the only ‘initiator and source of grace.’” Westerfield Tucker served on the committee that developed This Holy Mystery. How grace “works” through the sacraments is a subject upon which the Wesleys – John and Charles – chose not to speculate and neither have subsequent United Methodist teachings, she said. “This is not a theological cop-out, but an indicator of trust in God’s promises.” John Wesley was less confident about an adult’s ability to receive justifying and sanctifying grace at the time of baptism, she said, since a person might have conscious or unconscious obstacles set against it.

“Yet,” she said, “God’s grace was always given, even though a person might become aware of it or appropriate it at a later time. United Methodists can affirm that God’s grace is ‘most surely and immediately available’ because God’s promises are true. God can always do as God chooses, but God has shown again and again to the church that the sacraments are sure means, or channels, of grace.”

TRUST AND ACTION

UMNS/MIKE DUBOSE

Trust is an important aspect of grace, agreed the Rev. Mark Stamm, professor of Christian worship at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The Rev. Mark Windley blesses communion bread at Amazing Grace Community of Faith in Louisville, Kentucky.

ABINGDON PRESS

“Jesus’ command was ‘do this’ in the sacrament of Holy Communion,” Stamm said. Experiencing grace during this sacrament is a matter of trust, he said, because, as it is recorded in Luke 24, Christ is made known to us in the breaking of the bread; the risen Christ “shows up in the Eucharist,” he said. “You can’t control the risen Christ, just follow him.” When people gather for the Lord’s supper, he said, God’s grace is not just available for individuals. “During Holy Communion, we rub shoulders with people we wouldn’t otherwise be with,” Stamm said. “God has a great sense of humor to do this. God brings us together and says, ‘Deal with it.’” The grace experienced in Holy Communion moves Christians to act on their faith, Stamm said. “Grace is known in the things that we do,” he said, “such as working at reconciliation. Grace is encountered

ABUNDANT GRACE

as we proclaim the story of redemption.” This Holy Mystery states that God’s grace at Holy Communion “forms the church into a community of evangelism that reaches out to preach, teach, baptize and make new disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).” Stamm noted that for United Methodists, Christ is a “sure and real presence” during Holy Communion. The ritual is not merely a memorial. The grace experienced at baptism also stretches believers, Stamm said, because it is God who is at work. “We are initiated into God’s holy church,” he said, “and we are united with all the church. God’s invitation has always stretched far and wide, to people of all ages and in all times.” Stamm said he knows a church “gets it” when he visits a church and finds a person who “doesn’t fit in” but has a home there. “God is the one acting and who adds us to the church. Once a person becomes a sister or brother in Christ, they are that, now and forever.”

GIFTS TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

“Sacraments give dignity to our humanity and, by the grace of God, lift our humanity Godward,” said the Rev. Gina Campbell, visiting professor of worship at Wesley Theological Seminary and the Elder of the Chapel. The Rev. Karen B. God in Jesus Westerfield Tucker Christ knew that we needed to touch, feel, taste, see and hear God, she said, and thus, God invites us into an experience through the sacraments. Grace transforms us. How, exactly, is a mystery. “We receive the sacraments to become sacramental people,” Campbell explained. “I don’t know how that works. I do know that I come and receive (the elements) so that I become what I receive. That’s the whole Wesleyan notion about going on and going on. That’s my thinking about

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the sacraments; it’s like layers of sediment upon sediment; it builds and increases. “Our hope, then, is that we become ‘perfect in love,’” she said. “We become the love that claims us in our baptism, the

CHRISTINE HUGHES

How do United Methodists understand Holy Communion? Find some answers in this episode of “Chuck Knows Church.”

The Rev. Angela Flanagan baptizes a baby at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mt. Airy, Maryland, where she serves as associate pastor.

kind of love that nourishes us at the table, the kind of love that unites us to the communion of those who have been saints of God, always and everywhere, and become that body of Christ that does justice and loves mercy.” When Campbell hears Jesus’ command, “Do this in memory of me,” she said it becomes, for her, a “thin place, (a place that has) been so prayed over that the veil between heaven and earth seems very thin and time falls away. To me, this is a place where all those human categories that we hold fall away and it’s a thin place. “One thing I teach in every class, because I don’t think (United) Methodist folks hear it enough, is that Wesley’s whole confession of grace is the gift of our church to the Christian community,” she said. “The complexity of it, the depth of it, the on-going-ness of it, there’s just a beauty in the way Wesley thought about grace and the way he gave it to us. It just breaks my heart when you go places and you don’t hear it. ... Grace gives us assurance for our life that we forget at our peril.” The Rev. Erik Alsgaard is an elder and member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, where he serves as managing editor of the UMConnection.

Just as the means of grace help us experience God’s grace more fully, they also aid our growth as “Everyday Disciples.” Three staff members from Discipleship Ministries tell how in this podcast, part of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” series.

PIETY MERCY AND

BY EMILY SNELL

THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES, GOD HAS BEEN EXTENDING GRACE TO PEOPLE THROUGH EVERYDAY PRACTICES. THESE MEANS OF GRACE, AS JOHN WESLEY CALLED THEM, CONTINUE TO INFORM AND ENRICH PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE. Chris Wilterdink, director of Young People’s Ministries at Discipleship Ministries, said he views the means of grace as “the things we do to express our love for God, stay in touch with God, and love and serve our neighbor as ourselves.” These practices are not ways of earning grace but of responding to it, noted the Rev. Luther Smith Jr., professor emeritus of church and community at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. “We are not earning God’s favor,” Smith said. “God’s favor is already given to us, and in light of that, we seek to respond to God’s grace in a variety of expressions.” Many of the means of grace emphasized by Wesley are still significant today, Smith said. “Care for the poor is one; another is Wesley’s response to the issue of slavery. The various ways in which we are involved

in the spiritual disciplines, prayer and communion, baptism – all of these, for Wesley, are ways in which we express our understanding of receiving and responding to God’s grace,” he said. “Both the (pietistic) dimensions and the social witness dimensions of this are very much a part of Wesley’s commitment and have very much been part of the Methodist tradition.”

SOAKING UP GRACE

Kathy Reiter, a spiritual director and retreat leader who attends A&M United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas, said she views the means of grace as “different containers that help us soak up grace.” “The means of grace are almost like buckets we can hold and catch the grace that’s just abundant in our lives,” she said. “Some of the different buckets we can hold

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United Methodist Interpreter

are being in spiritual direction, attending retreats and participating in daily prayer.” Participating in the means of grace provides a way to grow deeper in faith, Reiter said. “Our spiritual lives are engaged with God and the Holy Spirit,” she said. “It’s one of the ways that we grow our interior muscles and our interior faith. I think it’s part of what puts flesh on the framework that our church proper gives us. The way that we go back and it changes us is when we use the means of grace privately.” The means of grace traditionally are separated into two categories – works of piety and works of mercy – which Smith said he views as “essential to one another.” “Acts of piety are not done for themselves, but are efforts to be formed in the way of Christ,” Smith said, “and that way takes us into opportunities to exercise our discipleship through acts of mercy or acts of compassion and acts of justice. I think the various spiritual formation The Rev. Luther E. Smith Jr. practices are fundamental to compassion and justice. And I think compassion and justice are fundamental to having an authentic experience of what the spiritual practices are about.” Reiter said she engages in the means of grace through prayer and reading on a daily basis. “My time includes some spiritual reading, some daily Scripture reading, silence in my prayer and intercessions for people,” she said. COURTESY PHOTO

RESPONDING WITH

CONTEMPLATION AND COMMUNITY

In addition to her contemplative practices, Reiter said she tries to be aware

ABUNDANT GRACE This work of responding to children living in situations of poverty and their families, I think, is a true expression of faith.”

Kathy Reiter

control this week or was I open to being with people I didn’t choose, being in places I didn’t choose? Did I let the Spirit move me?’ I try to make sure there is community that is almost a surprise to me.” Wilterdink recently joined a covenant discipleship group to help him intentionally practice the means of grace. “Like historical class meetings in the Methodist movement, it’s a group of people who talk about what they’re going to do in sharing compassion, being in worship, giving,” he said. “Being able to share that with the group, that kind of accountability, I’ve found to be really helpful.” Wilterdink said he also takes advantage of resources, such as The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide email, that support daily scripture reading and prayer practices. “I get that every day. They send it out really early in the morning, so it’s always one of the first emails I see,” he said. Reiter said engaging in spiritual practices that add variety and bring exposure to new voices can be beneficial. “Some of these more intentional environments, like being in retreats and being in spiritual direction, are about really

being present in that moment and soaking up the ways the Spirit is moving in your life,” she said. “I like that intentionality; it’s a really fruitful time.” Wilterdink said there is “unlimited creativity” in applying the means of grace to daily life. Following the emphasis on the means of grace at Youth 2015, Wilterdink said he knows some churches created prayer rooms or focused on fasting. Other youth groups started doing monthly service projects, such as helping in food pantries or soup kitchens. One youth leader emailed Wilterdink to share how a student, who attended Youth 2015 because his grandmother paid for it, ended up being transformed by the means of grace after the event. “For his birthday, instead of asking for gifts for himself, he asked for presents and supplies for a local homeless shelter,” Wilterdink said, noting that the student had previously not been very involved with church or youth group. “This youth leader that emailed me said that kind of attitude would have never happened without exposure to the means of grace.”

SERVICE AND ADVOCACY

Wilterdink and Smith also highlighted working for justice and advocacy as being significant in Wesley’s teachings about the means of grace. Wilterdink, for example, encourages churches to both serve at shelters – and to ask questions about the systems that lead to homelessness. “How could youth leaders and churches look at the reasons why that homeless shelter needs to be there in the first place? Is it an education thing, a jobs thing?” he said. “I would encourage youth and leaders to not be shy about asking why.” For Smith, practicing the means of grace includes serving as coordinator for the Pan-Methodist Campaign for Children in Poverty.

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NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

The organization, which involves six Pan-Methodist denominations, seeks to empower and challenge Methodist-rooted churches, agencies and seminaries to serve children and youth at risk of experiencing poverty. “This work of responding to children living in situations of poverty and their families, I think, is a true expression of faith,” Smith said. “Our working hard at this is in response to what God has already done and our profound appreciation and commitment to God.” Regardless of the specific practices that are implemented, Reiter said she wants people to be encouraged that experiencing and extending the means of grace doesn’t have to be complex. 33

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES

COURTESY PHOTO

of ways the Holy Spirit can lead her into community. “I also think, ‘In my week, when have I been in touch with people? Did I stay in

Chris Wilterdink

“One of the wonderful things about the means of grace is that grace absolutely abounds,” she said. “It’s not so hard to step into the means of grace. God wouldn’t have made it difficult. It’s just not out of reach to be in the means of grace.” Emily Snell is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes frequently for Interpreter and other print and electronic publications.

THROUGH THE ADVANCE

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GIVE LIGHT GIVE LOVE GIVE LIFE

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This Advent season, consider a year-end gift to The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday Nov. 29.

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VOTING BY SUSAN HENRY-CROWE

A PRAYERFUL ACT

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

As a young woman in South Carolina, I vividly remember the first election in which I could vote. Living two hours from my home in Greenville, I drove one Monday night from Winthrop College, where I was studying, in order to vote the next day. This was only a few years after Aug. 6, 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices adopted in many states after the Civil War. Southern states predominantly had employed literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses and other tools to keep African-Americans from voting. As a young woman born and raised in the South, I was no stranger to the racism that fueled these practices and the difficult work it took to defeat them. While landmark political and legislative outcomes were born out of the struggle, the Civil Rights movement did not begin as a legislative revolution. The passage of the Voting Rights Act followed the tireless and bold actions of countless individuals, communities and organizations – including

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The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe

many churches – standing up for voting rights. I remember the sense of responsibility and consciousness of my own human dignity in contributing to society. My family and The United Methodist Church had instilled in me the value of making the world better through voting. As an 18-year-old, I knew that my grandmothers, my mother and my aunts were born into a world in which they could not vote. When I first did so, other communities had just recently secured the enforcement of suffrage: the right to vote in political elections. We might know the word suffrage to mean the right to vote, but the second definition is worth noting: suffrage is also a series of intercessory prayers and petitions. Voting offers a way to create change, but it can also be an act of prayer and faith. VOTING IN UNITED METHODISM

The right to vote is not simply a democratic value. It is a United Methodist one. Our Book of Discipline regards political

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participation as the privilege and responsibility of citizens. It explicitly affirms voting rights as the basis of the form and function of government (Paragraph 164). The right to freedom and the responsibility to God and to each other frames voting rights as vital to our participation in society. Ensuring all people have equal access to voting is of the utmost importance. The United Methodist Church affirms the right to vote by any adult citizen as a basic freedom and human right. It is predicated on the basic dignity and respect of all people. Voting can be a channel for people of faith to influence the world in which we live. Clergy like Joseph Lowery, James Lawson and Anna Howard Shaw – Methodist leaders in movements pursuing civil rights – understood this. The United Methodist Church supports and calls for the implementation of non-discrimination in voting practices. The Rev. Joseph Lowery

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Voting is a matter of faith, citizenship and democracy. It is a kind of prayer and faithful testament to the belief that every citizen bears a responsibility and equal right to determine the future of governance in society.

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VOTING Because as Christians and United Methodists we believe in economic justice, we must work to ensure everyone, especially the working-class and those in rural and inner city communities, has the opportunity to vote regardless of access to paid time off and accessibility of polling locations.

This right is precious. Christian values teach us that we must prevent discriminatory actions and policies aimed at silencing individuals and communities. VOTING TODAY: FAITHFUL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Today, however, this right to vote is not secured for all. In the United States, threats to voting rights are emerging. They range from limiting polling hours to requiring documentation that costs money to the stripping of voting rights from formerly incarcerated people to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Section 4b of the Voting Rights Act in 2013. All are antithetical to the statements of the church and the historic work of United Methodists. Our belief as Christians and United Methodists in restorative justice calls us to care for the incarcerated and those returning to life in society. Returning citizens have THE SOPHIA SMITH COLLECTION

CASTING THE VOTE, TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

On Election Day and in the spirit of suffrage, I always utter a little prayer for my grandmothers and the women of that era who worked for their right to vote, for the civil rights leaders who pursued prayer and voting rights, and for all of the clergy, laity and other citizens who are engaged in the ongoing efforts to preserve this right for all. The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. One way to transform the world is through the enactment of policies aimed at fostering justice and peace. As people of faith, we must never take for granted the right to vote and must honor the memory of those who fought for suffrage. May we remember both definitions of suffrage and continue to vote prayerfully at all levels and for all offices so that we might transform the world. The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe is general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church.

The Rev. Anna Howard Shaw

»» 1971: The 26th amendment to the Constitution lowers the voting age to 18. »» 1975: Amendments to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were set forth prohibiting nationwide the use of literacy tests and similar prerequisites to registering or voting in all elections. They required certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting materials and assistance. The amendments prohibited states from imposing a 30-day residency requirement before people could vote for president. »» 1984: The Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act requires federal election sites to be accessible. »» 1986: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act requires that members of the military and merchant marines, their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. be able to register and vote absentee in federal elections. »» 2008: The Supreme Court rules that the Indiana voter photo ID requirement is constitutional. »» 2013: In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court rules Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, claiming that the coverage formula for jurisdictions was outdated. No jurisdiction is required to seek approval or pre-clearance before making changes to their voting laws and practices.

MULTI-LINGUAL BALLOTS At the turn of the 20th century, the state of Minnesota allowed ballots in multiple languages. In 1896, according to Immigration History Research Center records, official election instructions were issued in nine languages: English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, French, Czech, Italian and Polish. Today, the office of Minnesota’s secretary of state makes provisions in six languages: English, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. (Twin Cities Daily Planet, Aug. 24, 2010.)

CHURCH AND SOCIETY GRANTEE REGISTERS VOTERS The Pima County Interfaith Civic Education Organization (PCICEO) received a Peace with Justice grant from the General Board of Church and Society this spring. The grant is enabling PCICEO to help register voters, especially low-income and minority citizens, in Pima County in Arizona. Marjie Hrabe, a United Methodist deaconess from the Desert Southwest Conference, submitted the application.

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a right to be seen, heard and to take part in the political process; they have a right to exist fully as a part of society. Voting rights are commensurate with full restoration. Because as Christians and United Methodists we believe in racial justice and non-discrimination, we are committed to ensuring African-Americans, immigrants and other minority communities have equal access to voting. The targeting of minority communities with voter ID laws, intimidation, purging voter rolls and other tactics must be stopped. “All people are created equal” – and this extends to voting rights.

A RECENT HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS IN THE U.S.

The Rev. James Lawson United Methodist Interpreter

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CELEBRATING

COMMUNION CAN MAKE A STATEMENT ON ELECTION DAY

In 2012, 900 churches of different denominations across the United States observed Election Day Communion.

UMCOM/DIANE DEGNAN

“When we respond to the good news of Christ as the King of kings and the Lord of lords in coming to the table, Christ pours his healing grace into us as he gives us himself in bread and cup,” Scarlett said. “We are in continual need of healing, and, particularly on this night, we need Participating churches opened their healing from our division. Because we are doors and decided to make a statement leaning into the kingdom of God, which — not about candidates, political parties doesn’t see through red or blue lenses of or agendas, but acknowledging that true particular political parties, we’re learning hope is found in Christ and participating what it means to be citizens who confess, in holy acts of union and reconciliation. ‘Jesus is Lord.’” This year, planners hope people will St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in gather at the Lord’s table in even more Odessa, Delaware, will also have commuchurches on the evening of Nov. 8. nion on election night. The Rev. Karin The Rev. Michael Scarlett, pastor Tunnell, pastor, said, “My prayer has of First United Methodist Church in always been that celebrating Holy ComPocatello, Idaho, is proud to have his munion is a way for all of us, regardless of church host the community for Election our background, experience, education, Day Communion. status, cultural background, wealth or “We are participating because, in the lack of it, political views or theological words of (Christian activist and author) views, Shane Claiborne, we’re not FOR MORE INFORMATION to come called to follow an elephant or Go to the Election Day Communion website together. a donkey — we’re called to fol(https://electiondaycommunion2016.com) Jesus wellow the slaughtered lamb,” he and Facebook page (Election Day Commucomes us all said. “We’re inviting churches nion) for more information. to the table in our community to join with us as we gather to proclaim our allegiance regardless of political affiliation. It is the ritual symbol that Christ has given us that to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.” In Idaho, the polls are open until 8 p.m., we are loved.” but the congregation will gather at 7 p.m. to pray for political leaders and for the Polly House unity of the church and unity in a world that seeks to divide, separate and label.

WELCOME

VOTERS TO YOUR CHURCH

Election Day at churches that serve as polling places can be busy and sometimes disruptive. It also offers an opportunity to extend hospitality to people waiting in long lines.

Whether or not local election commissions allow congregations to offer anything to voters who come to their buildings, churches can be welcoming sites. At First United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska, administrative assistant Jennifer Miller answers more questions and talks to more people on Election Day than usual. She says it is all part of being a downtown church and part of the community. Minnetonka United Methodist Church may be among the favorite polling places in Minnesota. “We do an ‘election cafe’ at major elections,” said the Rev. Jeanine Alexander, lead pastor. “We have free food and drinks for all the voters and a whole lot of hospitality! We are known for it. The food is fairly elaborate — chicken wings, meatballs, nachos and all kinds of desserts. “Elections don’t interrupt our day-today ministry; they enhance it, because they give us the chance to offer radical hospitality.” Novi United Methodist Church in Michigan, Elm Springs Church in Arkansas and First Church in Gilbert, Arizona, all offer a variety of snacks and beverages. “Volunteers prepare, set up and restock

VOTING AS CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

LET COMPASSION, CARE SHAPE

PARTICIPATION

Find more ideas for offering hospitality on Election Day at umcom.org/learn/ election-day-an-opportunity-for-hospitality.

First Church in Anchorage provides coffee for the poll workers, while Duff Street Church in Clarksburg, West Virginia, hosts a bake sale on Election Day. It also allows poll workers access to the church kitchen. The Rev. Timothy A. Kriebel, pastor of St. Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, said people who come to the church to vote don’t disrupt daily church activities too much because they go in one door, through the fellowship hall, and out the back door to the parking lot. “It’s humorous to enter and exit the church a few different times on election day, because you ‘run the gauntlet’ of party activists who offer you their materials multiple times, but both sides lightheartedly laugh when you say you’re here to go to work.” Polly House

Televised presidential debates are a relatively new phenomenon in American politics. The practice originated with the 1960 presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Kennedy appeared looking rested, youthful and tan. Nixon, in contrast, resisted wearing makeup or being styled for television despite showing the wear of a recent hospital stay. He looked pale, tired and increasingly sweaty as the night wore on. Tellingly, those who watched the debate on TV overwhelmingly saw Kennedy to be the clear winner, while those listening on the radio judged the evening for Nixon. In our modern era, our approach to presidential debates carries the legacy of the Nixon-Kennedy debate to new extremes. Politics has become subject to the need for “good television.” Like any good reality TV, this means conflict over kindness. Viewers of the presidential debates are frequently admonished to pay attention less to the content of candidates’ positions on policies. Instead, pundits pick apart candidates’ body language, tone and ability to parry and pivot through the attacks of their opponents. Exhaustive post-debate coverage makes much of determining which candidate appeared more “presidential” despite rarely giving any real attention to the substance of their presentations. Observing and judging the debates has become far more of an exercise in vivisection than any real project in strengthening a voter’s comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand. Watching the Sept. 26 debate between candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, with its dramatic matchup of political calculus and sheer will to power, it was easy to get lost in the gamesmanship if not utterly dejected by the current state of American electoral politics. As one candidate attempted to get

United Methodist Interpreter

WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

the refreshments,” said Gilbert’s Adriana Hernandez. “Additional volunteers are at the table to greet voters and thank them for voting.” Being a polling place “does take additional time from the staff team who coordinates efforts on that day,” she says, but that goes with event management in the life of the church.” Elm Springs administrative assistant Mary Bowman said the church doesn’t see all the extra people as a disruption. “We are excited to have visitors in the church for whatever the reason may be.”

BY CAROLYN J. DAVIS

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

The Rev. Carolyn J. Davis

in yet another almost profanely low blow against the other, a thought struck me: “How would the tone and form of this debate change if each candidate approached their task from a position of concern for the other?” If Clinton or Trump started first with an intentional moment of genuine, truly altruistic preoccupation with the well-being of the other, it could very well change how they addressed one another. Perhaps that low blow might be reconsidered, a contentious policy point better understood. Could it also change how they considered their task as presidential candidates, public servants and citizens? To ask one another “how is it with your soul” has long been a central practice in the lives of faithful Christians. The question echoes habits formed in a variety

Assessing the needs of our communities — considering how is it with our neighbor — can and should be paired with participation in the structures that might help bring greater justice and mercy to bear in the world. In an electoral democracy, this means voting (and running for office). Suffragettes and civil rights activists alike did not march for simple self-empowerment. Immigrants seeking citizenship do not work (to achieve that status) just so they can go out and manifest their ideological opinion in the ballot box. These groups and all who seek a more robust democracy know that voting is critical to improving the lives of their communities. Christians who take their practices of care and compassion seriously should be committed to doing the same. (It has often been people of faith driving these social movements toward enfranchisement.) Voting forms us into citizens mobilized to action. Voting strengthens our bonds to our civic and social structures. Let us pray that our Christian discipline of compassion might shape as well the ways in which we attend to the care of our neighbor with our vote.

The Rev. Carolyn J. Davis serves as deputy director at the Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she develops new programs and partnerships about the interplay of faith, ethics, values and public discourse. She formerly was a senior policy analyst for the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.,. and taught for Andover Newton Theological School. Her writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, Newsweek, Talking Points Memo, Religion Dispatches and Sojourners and other outlets. She holds a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University and a master of divinity from Emory University. Davis is an ordained deacon and a member of the Texas Annual Conference.

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of Christian orders and spiritual traditions. When engaged in the context of a community of faith, the question can carry with it a dual meaning. Friends ought to be concerned with the well-being of others. At the same time, the very practice of cultivating concern for the other carries with it an investment in the overall well-being of the community. When we share our burden together, we are better able to attend to the needs of the communities we inhabit. The cultivation of such a habit of concern for the other bears spiritual fruit. We become, over time, more inherently compassionate. Spiritual discipline eventually gives way to spiritual formation. While we await, with hope that is perhaps eschatological, for our candidates to discover a renewed sense of compassion for their opponents, we can nonetheless consider what a similar principle could mean for our own participation as citizens in the electorate. What if Christians were to count voting as an expression of the spiritual discipline of compassion? Voting is, in itself, a practiced discipline. Studies show that voting habits are formed over time — we must register, maintain our voting records, become attuned to the rhythms of electoral cycles, vote on appointed days. In our current American system, the burden to register and vote is placed on the individual. There is no direct, tangible penalty for refusing to vote. And voter disenfranchisement continues to be a tempting strategy for political forces looking to manipulate the system in their favor. Within this frame, it is especially easy for the unengaged voter to simply sit out an election if the candidate or the issue does not feel especially compelling. However, when we discard our votes into the dustbins of cynicism, apathy or sheer frustration with the system at large, we miss an opportunity to participate in acts of care and compassion as a spiritual discipline.

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PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL

PROCESS IS OPPORTUNITY – AND RESPONSIBILITY BY THOMAS LAMBRECHT

When I was growing up, the “rule” was that politics and religion were never discussed in polite company. Seeing how the level of political discourse has sunk to gutter level and observing the high animosity and even violence between partisans in this election, one can understand why that “rule” was established!

Yet, the challenge remains for us as Christians: Should we participate in the political process that governs our country (from local school board to U.S. president), and if so, how? Christians have had an ambivalent relationship with politics in the United States. In colonial times, preachers The Rev. Thomas A. Lambrecht often spoke on political issues of the day. In the mid-1800s, many preachers (including many Methodists) promoted the abolition of slavery from the pulpit and supported the Civil War as a holy war against slavery. African-American congregations have often been involved in the political process, inviting candidates to speak, endorsing candidates and even lifting up clergy as political leaders.

United Methodist Interpreter

VOTING AS CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

At the same time, many churches avoided political issues in the 20th century, encouraged by the cultural emphasis on separation of church and state to compartmentalize that part of life out of the church. It was a big shift when evangelicals became politically active through the Moral Majority in the 1980s. However, that political involvement did not characterize all evangelical churches. Many look at the political process as dirty and abhor the need to compromise in order to govern. Politics and government are part of our lives, however, and Jesus Christ wants to be lord of all of life, not just certain parts. We live in a democracy that is self-governing, which means that in the largest sense we are the government. Recognizing Christ’s lordship, we have not only the opportunity, but the responsibility to participate in the process that shapes our government and the policies of our city, schools, state and country. We do that through casting informed votes and through voicing our perspective on issues of concern. Jeremiah 29:7 invites us to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (NIV). One of the criticisms of Christians becoming involved in politics is that we are “forcing our values” on everyone else. We need to understand that all laws and government policies reflect the values of the people who enact them. There is no such thing as “value-neutral” government. And if we believe in the Christian values like love, patience, grace, responsibility, self-control and others, we ought to promote those values for the betterment of society. Nobody is forcing any values on anyone. Rather, we are attempting to persuade others to adopt values and/or policies that we believe will lead to the betterment of our society. It is important for Christians to guard against equating a certain political party as being THE Christian party. A person doesn’t need to be a Republican or a Democrat to be a Christian. Each party

represents one approach to solving the country’s problems. Often, the parties agree on the goal but disagree on how to get there. Sometimes, the parties propose different visions of what they want our country to be. Neither party will perfectly reflect Christian goals or values. Our task as Jesus followers is to determine as best we can which party or candidates most closely reflect our values on the issues we believe are most important from a Christian perspective. This requires paying ongoing attention to the process and policies of government, not just in the two weeks prior to an election, and evaluating those policies in the light of biblical principles. In the 1980s, one of the top issues of concern was the possibility of nuclear war, with the attendant destruction of the planet. Both parties had the same goal of security, peace and preserving the planet. One party believed the best way to pursue that goal was through nuclear disarmament, perhaps even being willing to disarm unilaterally. The other party believed the best approach was “peace through strength,” using the nation’s nuclear arsenal to deter armed conflict. The goal was one that all Christians could agree on. The differing approaches to reaching that goal were what John Wesley would have called “prudential decisions,” ones on which Christians of good faith could disagree, ones where the Bible does not have a clear-cut answer. It is on these prudential matters that we need to have the humility to realize we could be wrong, and the grace to accept the perspective of brothers and sisters with whom we disagree. For Christians, perhaps the most distressing aspect of political campaigns is the lying, name calling, mudslinging and personal attacks that do not help us determine the qualifications and policy ideas of the candidates. Our country has become so polarized that we now divide ourselves off from those who do not share our political views. This division and antagonism between the parties extends even into the church, disrupting congregational life and

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foreclosing opportunities for fellowship, witness and cooperative ministry. John Wesley famously advised his parishioners how to conduct themselves in an election:

1 To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy;

2 To speak no evil of the person they voted against; And,

3 To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side. (Journal, Oct. 6, 1774)

How we engage with each other in the political process is just as much a reflection of our discipleship as the particular conclusions we draw on various issues or candidates. At all times, we ought to embody the Spirit of Christ, treating each other with love, humility and respect. The Rev. Thomas A. Lambrecht is the vice president and general manager of Good News. An elder and member of the Wisconsin Conference, he is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has served various-sized congregations and fulfilled leadership roles within the Wisconsin Conference.

SHARP, ALERT, INSPIRED

MINDS NEEDED ED. NOTE: GERMANY WILL NEXT HOLD NATIONAL ELECTIONS TO ELECT A CHANCELLOR AND A PRESIDENT IN 2017.

UMCOMMUNICATIONS GERMANY/KLAUS U. ROUF

BY HANS MARTIN RENNO

The Rev. Hans Martin Renno

At the start of the Bible, God tells us to take possession of the earth (Genesis 1:28). We are instructed to care for and protect the Garden of Eden, respectively the earth (Genesis 2:15). God has entrusted us with the responsibility for life on earth and for what we do with the world as a whole. The Old Testament prophets admonish and warn us to walk in the path of justice and peace. They criticize the abuse of political power by kings and armies. They demand just dealings in economic and trading relationships. They deplore corruption and nepotism in the courts of justice; peace and justice are their prime criteria for living together in personal relationships within the family and neighborhood and in society at large. In the New Testament, Jesus gives us some glimpses of the kingdom of heaven. He tells of God’s new world in the Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the Beatitudes. In God’s kingdom, there will be joy, mercy, peace and justice, no suffering, no violence, no hunger and thirst, no persecution (Matthew 5:3-11).

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

Modern democratic civil societies as we know them today, with the possibilities they offer for participating in political processes with universal franchise for all levels of elections, were simply unknown in biblical times. No such structures were in place, not when the children of Israel were in exile in Egypt, nor as they entered the land of Canaan, nor at the time of Jesus. However, we are encouraged by God’s instructions to us in the context of the creation together with the deeds and sayings of the prophets. Both the promise of the kingdom of God and the message that it has been here since Jesus walked the earth and has been growing ever since strengthen us. As disciples of Jesus, we are challenged to face up to our responsibility and to take a proactive role in many different aspects of social commitment. By becoming involved in social welfare projects and offering support and commitment to improving the lot of the disadvantaged, we bear personal witness to society of God’s kingdom of love, peace and justice. When we exercise the right to vote that our forefathers and foremothers had to fight so hard for, we also take up our political responsibility for the way our country or city is run. A disciple’s faith affects not just personal activities and behaviors. Faith also allows us to form an opinion as to how far the political attitude of the candidates and their campaign promises match up to the attributes of the kingdom of Jesus in terms of love, justice and preserving God’s creation. Disciples need a sharp and alert mind so that, based on their profound

VOTING AS CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

relationship with God, they can see and decide whether the political will and integrity of this or that candidate is compatible with Christian faith and with the ethics of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should constantly observe and critically judge the political actions and decisions of candidates. The touchstones we use at election time should not be the friendly face, the stylish appearance or the confident self-assurance of the campaigner, nor his or her noble promises and definitely not the disparaging and insulting comments about the political opponent. Examples of the key issues on which we could base our decisions could include: »» What is the candidate’s understanding of peace – world peace, peace in society, peace in the economy? »» What does the candidate think about

justice – here at home and throughout the whole world? »» What does he or she think about the poor, the ostracized, the disadvantaged and the stranger? »» How significant is the economy in the candidate’s thinking? Growth and profit at all costs or an economy built on solidarity? What is the candidate’s opinion about protecting and preserving the natural environment and natural resources? I am convinced that when we go to vote for a president, for a mayor, for any government official, we accept our God-given responsibility and must take it seriously. We should do so with an alert mind inspired by the Holy Spirit, because we bear witness to the God of life who wants all God’s creatures to enjoy the fullness of life, who blesses the peacemakers, who

constantly offers and demands justice and who facilitates reconciliation and makes us free. The Rev. Hans Martin Renno serves half time as head of the United Methodist Commission for Church and Society in the Germany Area and half time as pastor of Freiburg United Methodist Church in the southwest part of the country, in the Rhine river valley. He and his wife, Dorothee Schaefer-Renno, have five adult daughters. Jaqueline Rohmann translated the article. The Rev. Klaus Ulrich Ruof, director of communications for the Germany Central Conference of The United Methodist Church, coordinated the development and translation of this article. Read it in German at www.interpretermagazine.org.

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A time of sacred waiting: Keeping Advent at home

T 44

THE LEFTOVER TURKEY’S BARELY IN THE FREEZER AND ADVENT IS .... YIKES! ... HERE. IT’S A SEASON THAT IS FULL – BUT THERE ARE WAYS CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND MEMORABLE ADVENT, RATHER THAN ONE THAT IS HARRIED AND EXHAUSTING.

Advent “emphasizes Christ’s coming, not merely his birth,” reminds Melanie C. Gordon, director of ministry with children at Discipleship Ministries. “Our children,” she says, “are surrounded by the sights, scents and music of Christmas, both religious and secular. How a family chooses to celebrate is their choice, but the family of God honors the coming of Christ. Make sure that children experience the fullness of this season of Advent. The retail world is going to prepare children for Santa and the reindeer. Our role is to prepare them for the coming of Christ.” Discipleship Ministries offers a variety of Advent resources and activities at www. umcdiscipleship.org/leadership-resources/ children to help parents and teachers.

ADVENT TRADITIONS

Many individuals and families establish their own Advent traditions. For Anne

BY CINDY SOLOMON

Nelson, Advent is a time to create a sacred space to prepare her family’s hearts for Christ at Christmas. When her children were younger, Nelson, who is married to the Rev. Matt Nelson, an associate pastor at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, read Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children (Pilgrim Press) by Elizabeth Caldwell. In it, the author suggested intentionally tying the rituals of faith to the liturgical year. By celebrating seasons of the church year at home, children begin to make connections between belief and actions. “I wanted that for my kids,” Nelson said. “So I began to change our way of celebrating the liturgical seasons, seasons that so often get hijacked by the commercial and the secular – think Christmas stuff in stores before Halloween – and by ‘the way we’ve always done it’.” Nelson’s intentional rituals of faith at home during Advent include: »» Reading Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas (Plough Publishing Company) with a friend and sharing daily “ah-ha” moments from the readings via text. »» Decorating their home the first Sunday in Advent with light — placing candles in the windows and an Advent wreath

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

on the table. “We light candles each night,” Nelson said, “and talk about where we see the theme for that week in our daily living. We also read scripture relating to the Advent themes of hope, love, joy and peace.” »» Saying “no” to the crazy-busyness of December. “We don’t go to all of the Christmas parties, concerts and such,” Nelson said. “Rather, we select a few so that our schedules aren’t overcrowded. I’m done being exhausted in December!” »» Buying a tree one week before Christmas and leisurely decorating it (by then the children are home from school for the holidays). “We leave up all our decorations throughout Christmastide and put them away after Epiphany,” Nelson said. »» Adding pieces to their various nativities along the way — shepherds at Christmas Eve, baby Jesus on Christmas Day and the magi at Epiphany. For congregations, Nelson shares a tradition from a church her husband previously served. While the sanctuary ended up being fully decorated by Christmas Eve, Nelson said, “For the first Sunday of Advent, we put up a simple giving tree in the sanctuary. The ‘ornaments’ on the tree were paper stars with the names of items needed to put together an apartment for a refugee family resettling into our area. This included everything from toilet tissue to a vacuum cleaner, to specific food items from the family’s country of origin, to a sofa and a kitchen table. This tree set the

FROM OUR READERS

tone for the church for Advent — Christ came to serve; we are to serve.” For anyone who wants to be intentional in observing and celebrating Advent, Nelson advises, “Remember Jesus, who came simply and humbly to love and to serve. Stressing ourselves out, over spending and over committing is never the goal of Advent or Christmas.”

A number of Interpreter readers shared ideas for keeping Advent in their responses to the “We Asked ... You Said” question for this issue (p. 16). Find more ideas at www. interpretermagazine.org. »» Place a wrapped figure of baby Jesus in the manger. Unwrap it on Christmas morning. Jennifer Rodia, Providence UMC, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee »» Install the crèche on the first Sunday of Advent without the Christ child. Beside it, place a small basket filled with little pieces of hay. Place a piece of straw in the manger to recognize someone doing good (some also

Cindy Solomon is a marketing consultant and content writer living in Franklin, Tennessee.

remove a piece for not-so-good behavior). Others have everyone in the house at dinner time, including guests, place a straw there. By Christmas Eve, the manger is ready to welcome baby Jesus. Several readers »» Sing “The Messiah” – either with a choir or at home accompanied by a video or CD. Sarah

Bragg, Atascadero (California) UMC »» Wrap 25 or so mostly religious children’s Christmas books and put them in a basket outside your children’s bedrooms. Beginning the first night of Advent through Christmas Eve, let them unwrap one and make that your bedtime story. It is a fun way to teach the story of Jesus’ birth to young children. Kim Longsworth, St. Paul’s UMC, Kensington, Maryland »» Build a child’s “Birthday Bag” on each day of Advent for a local food pantry. Include a cake mix, tub of frosting, cute plates and a small toy with a birthday card. Francene Larrimer, St. Philips UMC, Round Rock, Texas »» Gather on each Saturday for an “Advent Quiet Morning” sharing scripture, memories and a simple lunch. Doug Speakman, Calvary UMC, Fort Wayne, Indiana

COURTESY PHOTO

Anne and the Rev. Matt Nelson share Christmas with their children, Sarah and Caleb.

FOR MORE IDEAS ... »» A Different Kind of Christmas: Living and Giving Like Jesus (Abingdon Press) by Mike Slaughter »» Come Worship with Me: A Journey through the Church Year (Westminster Press) by Ruth Boling »» Seasons of Faith: Teaching the Christian Year (Abingdon Press) by Marcia Stoner »» Mary Had A Baby: An Advent Study Based on African Spirituals (Abingdon Press) by Marilyn Thornton and Cheryl Kirk-Duggan. Although written for adults, it is adaptable for children. Find descriptions of several Advent studies and devotional books new this year in the September-October issue of Interpreter or at www.interpretermagazine.org.

12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS Holidays can be lonely and painful for people who have lost a child or other loved one during the year. You can bring surprise, laughter and joy by giving them the “12 Days of Christmas.”

Give each one a matching card (make them fun) with the right number on it to attach to the gift, and the address of the receiver on the back. Remind the givers with a text, call or email.

On Dec. 13, the doorbell rings, no one is there, but one gift (poinsettia, candle, etc.) sits on the front porch. A card attached says “On the first day of Christmas, your friends give to you one...?”

Schedule a time on Dec. 24 for all who have provided gifts to go to the recipient’s home to carol and reveal themselves (maybe with 12 cinnamon rolls)! Hug and go away with a touched heart. If Dec. 24 does not work for the recipient, find another time to reveal the givers.

Each day brings a numbered card with that many gifts: 2 cans of popcorn, 3 ornaments, 4 bread and jams, 5 balloons, pizza with 6 pepperonis, etc. Gifts may show up at work, at a child’s school (with permission), car windshield, so forth. Contact neighbors of the recipient, a child’s ball team, church or work friends to provide this surprise. Make a chart to show: »» Dec. 13: Day 1, 1 gift, planned gift, giver’s name and phone number. »» Dec. 14: Day 2, 2 gifts, 2 gift certificates, Jacob and Heather, 663-4646 »» Dec. 15: Day 3, 3 gifts, 3 angels, Jamie and Sarah, 664-8575

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

For someone in a nursing home or unable to get to their door easily, wrap 12 gifts (slippers, popcorn, lip balm, jewelry, books, magazines, chips, a poem about them, a gift certificate, so forth). Put them into a pretty basket, and deliver on Dec. 13. Instruct the recipient to choose one gift to open each day. It is a good idea to put in a few extras for those who forget or get too excited and open more than one a day.

Jan Bretz, 10th Avenue United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, Kansas

Advent at Glendale United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee

Cook Moore offered the ideas in 2015 while serving as assistant professor of worship and preaching and chapel elder at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. Today, she is senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Alva, Oklahoma. BEGIN LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS

Let your Advent giving be about relationships, rather than giving based solely on feeling good. “Everyone has an angel tree,” she says. “Ask yourself, ‘What makes ours different?’ “One way to make it different is to adopt families for a year — not just for the angel tree. We need to be building relationships with them and offering resources so they receive basic needs all year,” Cook Moore says. She recommends congregations not be building-centered. Instead, seek to take the

a week during Advent where children are cared for so parents can relax or shop,” says Cook Moore. And counter to what so many churches do, she suggests, “Encourage the tradition of the children’s Christmas pageant, but hold it after Christmas Day. Space it out so it’s not so crammed into three weeks.”

MAKE

A COUNTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE message of Christ’s birth and life into the community. “We need to be moving out of the church completely for some of our services,” Cook Moore explains. “Hold a candlelight service somewhere in the community. Include prayers and songs for people who have lost loved ones within the past year.” She advocates for listening to your neighbors. “If you have a homeless ministry, ask the people served, ‘What is Christmas for you? If you could pray for one thing, what would it be?’ Talk with them about waiting. Then compile their answers and write prayers to use in coming services. “It’s scary to engage with the other,” Cook Moore continues. “But respecting and valuing them by listening beats any trinket we might give.”

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

UMCOM/STEVEN KYLE ADAIR

“BE COUNTERCULTURAL WHEN PREPARING FOR ADVENT,” ADVISES THE REV. CAROL COOK MOORE. SHE RECOMMENDS SEVERAL STRATEGIES FOR LAITY AND CLERGY TO PROVIDE A HAVEN FOR WORSHIPPERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING ADVENT.

ALLOW TIME FOR WAITING, TRADITION, RITUAL

Cook Moore, who leads retreats and workshops on Advent, advises starting Advent-themed sermons a few weeks before the beginning of the liturgical season. “Take the time to explain what it is. Then, introduce Advent rituals very slowly. Mirror the waiting in faith.” This includes the music. “Don’t rush toward doing Christmas songs. During the first and second weeks (of Advent), sing hymns about waiting. These can be contemporary. By the third week, start singing Christmas songs that teach about Jesus coming. Hold off on songs that are so focused on the birth.” While waiting on the Christ child’s arrival, help families build Advent traditions. “Offer at least one night

United Methodist Interpreter

PRACTICE RADICAL HOSPITALITY

Cook Moore urges congregations to be at the top of their game with hospitality. “Be more welcoming by posting greeters outside (yes, outside in December), and have plenty of directional signs. In the church, get rid of insider language. And have explanations in the bulletins or on the screen.” She encourages hospitality to all — visitors and congregants alike. “Even those who have enough shouldn’t be condemned and judged about the consumerism of the season. This alienates people. We need to give people alternative experiences and create opportunities to connect with them,” Cook Moore says. “Inviting them into silence in worship is countercultural. Offer them space in which to reflect.” This space and peace you will be offering will surely be a countercultural haven. Reprinted with permission from www.wesleyseminary. edu/ecalling/countering-theculture-at-advent.

JIM SHARRAD

BOAR’S HEAD FESTIVAL

A festive end to Christmastide BY CINDY SOLOMON

The grand Epiphany festival originated in the Roman Empire when the boar was the first dish served at great Roman feasts. By the 12th century, the serving of the boar’s head at Christmastide had become a symbol of the triumph of Christ over Satan. Trinity Church began this tradition after several members attended a Boar’s Head Festival in Hartford, Connecticut. “We realized Trinity had the potential to produce such an event,” said Becky Rosendahl

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Isaacson, Trinity’s director of music ministry and musical director for the festival. “Our Gothic cathedral sanctuary and many talented and artistic church members made this festival a natural.” With support from the church staff and congregation, fundraising for the production began. The first festival took place in January of 1984 with a cast of 50 members. Today, more than 200 adults and children have roles, including 80 singers of all ages. GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY

“Originally, the festival was meant to be a gift to the community, as well as a fundraiser for the congregation,” said the Rev. John E. Mueller, Trinity pastor. Ten percent of the festival proceeds support local missions.

United Methodist Interpreter

JIM SHARRAD

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE BOAR’S HEAD FESTIVAL HAS DRAWN CROWDS TO TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CELEBRATING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“It is somewhat chaotic, earthy and dramatic as the townspeople gather to make the sanctuary ready for the festival,” Rosendahl said. “The preparation includes unique town characters such as the jester, magician, midwife, storyteller, local beggar, prioress and nuns, friar, woodsmen and town carolers. At the appointed hour, Lord Asbury declares that the Boar’s Head Festival will begin.”

A choir of monks enters in darkness followed by a tiny sprite bringing in the lighted candle representing Christ, the light of the world. Christmas choral and instrumental music continues for the next 75 minutes. Among the scenes created are the boar’s head procession, entrance of the nobility, King Wenceslas with the snow dancers, Father Christmas, the shepherds with their live animals, and the three kings with camels, pages and canopy bearers. At the end, all kneel in adoration as the Te Deum stained glass window shines over the cathedral. After the entire cast has recessed, the sprite reenters and, along with the pastor, goes forth to the world with the light. “Sharing in this experience over the course of the weeks leading up to the festival helps bring the congregation together,” Mueller said. “A wonderful and powerful aspect of the Boar’s Head Festival is its inter-generational nature. Children, youth and adults all work, play, rehearse, celebrate and make a contribution together. It is a very important part of the ministry; people have been led to join Trinity Church after attending the festival. “Through the festival, we are able to share this very important story with people — some of whom might not otherwise come to Trinity to learn about or celebrate the story. It also helps us to extend the celebration of this important season of the year. Often, the day after Christmas, people are taking down trees and stores have packed up their Christmas items and put out new merchandise. The festival enables us to truly celebrate the season of Christmas and the Epiphany.” While preparation and rehearsals for the festival begin in December, many other events are on Trinity’s calendar for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Two Christmas concerts by the Trinity Chamber Singers and an Advent workshop and caroling to shut-ins are part of the church’s traditions, as are seasonal Bible studies, a family Christmas night hike and multiple Christmas Eve services. “We also invite each other to participate in a ‘Christmas Is Not Your Birthday’ initiative and lift up three mission priorities for the coming year,” Mueller concluded. JIM SHARRAD

“It is still a powerful gift to the community, as evidenced by the sold-out performances,” Mueller continued. “It’s a wonderfully creative, musical, visual, inspiring, fun, playful, meaningful and stirring way of telling the story of the birth of Christ.” An event of this size and magnitude doesn’t just happen overnight. Festival planning begins in March when chairpersons are chosen for 20 committees, including decorations, lighting, tickets, properties, costumes, meal preparation and serving and ushers. Costumes and props are made and maintained by church members. Adult casting of non-singers begins in June and children’s casting is in September. Live animals used in the production include three camels, goats, sheep, llamas, a horse, chickens, geese and a bird of prey, such as a falcon. Rehearsals for singers, dancers, Beefeaters and instrumentalists begin in November. On New Year’s Day, the cast, sans professional singers and instrumentalists and the animals, comes together for a complete run-through. The week before the performance dates, there is a full-cast dress rehearsal. Forty-five minutes before each performance — there are five over three days – final preparations begin as the audience arrives.

Cindy Solomon is a marketing consultant and content writer living in Franklin, Tennessee.

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

AIDS not over yet

UNITED METHODISTS

CONTINUE FIGHT

WORLD AIDS DAY IS DEC. 1. EACH YEAR, THE COMMEMORATION BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER WORLDWIDE TO UNITE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/ AIDS, SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. WORLD AIDS DAY, THE FIRST-EVER GLOBAL HEALTH DAY, WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN 1988. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 36.7 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS in 2015. Of those, 1.8 million were children younger than age 15.

UMNS/KATHLEEN BARRY

Pauline Muchina, staff member with the General Board of Church and Society, and the Rev. Donald E. Messer look over the program before the start of “AIDS is Not Over!...Global Issues and the Church.”

Medical research has made great progress, and antiretroviral medications now allow people to live much longer with AIDS. Still, while the rate of new HIV infections has fallen by about 35 percent since 2000,

upward of 1.3 million people die from the infection each year. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected region, with more than 25 million people living with HIV in 2015. The area also accounts for two-thirds of the global total of new HIV infections. The United Methodist Church continues to assist those living with HIV/AIDS and to educate others to prevent new infections. Preceding the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Oregon, United Methodist church members joined an AIDS researcher and people living with HIV/AIDS from around the world for “AIDS Is Not Over! ... Global Issues and the Church,” a daylong workshop at Rose City Park United Methodist Church. “The name of this event says it all,” commented the Rev. Don Messer, “AIDS is not over yet.”

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

BY POLLY HOUSE

United Methodist Interpreter

Messer, who lives in Denver, Colorado, was instrumental in the creation of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund (UMGAF) at the 2004 General Conference. A member of the UMGAF board since its inception, he has twice served as chair. When The United Methodist Church established the fund, it pledged to raise $3 million through apportionments during the 2009-2012 quadrennium and to provide an additional $5 million through Advance (designated) gifts. As of mid-2016, the fund has received more than $3.5 million and supported 284 projects in 44 countries, according to Messer. “One thing I believe the church fund has done well in the past 12 years is its sponsorship of HIV/ AIDS education programs all over the world about prevention and treatment,” Messer said. However, he added, “We could do so much more if there were more funds available. We do a lot more talking than giving.” In his travels across the United States and around the world, he said almost all people living with HIV/AIDS say what they need most is compassion. “The antiretroviral medications have improved many lives,” he said, “but the stigma remains. People with HIV/AIDS need to be loved and touched and cared for just like Jesus would do. They

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HOW ONE CHURCH HELPS

Brenda Blake has been on staff at First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, since 2002. Her responsibilities include heading the church’s ministry to people living with HIV/AIDS. “Over the years, the work we have done with the HIV community has changed,” she said. “Early on, there was such a stigma that churches tended to be needed much more. Now, the new medications are really helping people live normal lives, and they don’t necessarily need the same kind of help.” For example, the church used to help with transitional housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. “Years ago, transitional housing really was a place

these sick people would go to die,” Blake said. For too many, the stigma of HIV or AIDS caused them to be forced out of homes, jobs and other social spheres. “We did meals, helped with doctor visits and such. But, now, people are living longer, healthier lives,” Blake said. “The needs are different.” Blake said some of the best ministry to people living with HIV/AIDS she sees happens at camp. “Camp gives the people the freedom to just be there,” she said. “Everyone has HIV, so there is nothing to hide. It’s a place where people become free to be who they are.” Camp Cedar Glen, owned by the California-Pacific Conference, hosts “Strength for the Journey,” one of several camp experiences for those living with HIV/AIDS that United

UMNS/KATHLEEN BARRY

need to experience the change that comes with the gospel.”

The altar at the “AIDS is Not Over!...Global Issues and the Church” conference.

Methodists offer across the United States. The conference and San Diego AIDS Walk support the five-day camp in southern California. Staff and planners are all volunteers. This retreat is open to anyone with HIV/AIDS without regard to religion, race, gender identity or sexual orientation. “Dancing with Hope” is a

weekend camp for women living with HIV/AIDS that grew out of “Strength for the Journey” and is particularly close to Blake’s heart. The church partners with San Diego’s Christie’s Place to offer the women a weekend away from their normal responsibilities. “For many of these women, five days away just isn’t

Provocatively Wesleyan

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AIDS is not over yet possible since they have children, jobs and other responsibilities,” Blake said. “So having weekend camp works for them.” The Rev. Jessica Strysko, teaching pastor at First Church, serves as camp dean. “She has been so supportive of this work with these women,” Blake said. For the first time, this year’s camp, held Sept. 9-11, welcomed six transgender women. “It was such a beautiful image, the way these women were welcomed by the other women,” Blake said. “All of them had a lot in common.” Polly House is a freelance writer and editor living in Nashville, Tennessee. She currently serves as editorial assistant for Interpreter and Interpreter OnLine.

The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund United Methodists are encouraged to observe World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 and to support the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund (UMGAF) with gifts to Advance Project #982345. Find worship resources for World AIDS Day at http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/ resources/worship-resources-forworld-aids-day-december-1. The top priorities of the Global Health HIV program of the General Board of Global Ministries are to challenge stigma and eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV around the world in line with UNAIDS and World Health Organization (WHO) policy. The Global Health Unit addresses the HIV/AIDS pandemic in two ways: »» Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus in projects around the world in

partnership with the UMGAF. Established in 2004, the fund’s purpose is to stem the tide of HIV and AIDS around the world, by strengthening The United Methodist Church’s compassionate response to this deadly pandemic. The focus is outreach to women, especially pregnant women. »» Education and testing, support and improved access to services in the United States: U.S. HIV projects promote the prevention of HIV and also provide support to those infected or affected by HIV. Support includes psychosocial care, access to health and social services, and increasing the sense of belonging.

young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, injecting drug users, prisoners and migrants globally. These groups are unlikely to live in settings that address stigma and discrimination and violence against women. They are also less likely to know they are infected (The UNAIDS– Lancet Commission. “Defeating AIDS—Advancing Global Health. Lancet 2015) and have limited access to counseling, testing and treatment services.

www.umcmission.org/exploreour-work/global-health/ hivumgaf

The funds raised support projects designed to reach the most at-risk populations of teenage girls and

Learn more Go to www.umgaf2014.wordpress.com to learn more about the Global AIDS Fund and how you can help through advocacy and donations. 53

N A M IS S IO

SION A MIS

JO U R N EY

Y E N R U O J

BO A HAND VO L U N T OK FOR EERS

ry/Missions

B O O K H A N D

VOLUNTEERS

A MISSION JOURNEY The official guide for YOUR mission journey

F O R

This UMVIM handbook is for team leaders, team members, and others who will get involved in short-term mission volunteer journeys. It encourages short-term mission volunteers to reflect on the reasons why they engage in mission and how they prepare to be more intentional about relationships with those they encounter on their journeys.

A Mission Journey is available from the Upper Room Bookstore in paperback for $17 or in e-book format for $9.99. http://bookstore.upperroom.org • 800-972-0433 Upper Room provides discounts for bulk orders. Call for more details.

BY POLLY HOUSE

Offering helps students defray higher education costs

disburse the scholarship checks to the student’s school.” Collinsworth, who has led the loans and scholarships area for the past five years, said, “We’ve done some research and the average debt for a graduating seminary student is about $66,000. Typically, the first jobs out of seminary pay about $36,000, so it’s truly a struggle to pay back the student loans.” Between 800 and 1,000 students who apply for scholarships each year are denied due to lack of funding. The Student Day offering helps close the gap. Since 1866, Methodists have recognized the importance of supporting students. It began with the Children’s Education Fund (CEF) that helped pay for children’s Sunday schools. Six years later, the first Special Sunday with an offering was established to support the CEF. In 1940, CEF Day became known as Methodist Student Day. By giving generously on United Methodist Student Day, church members help prepare young leaders to alleviate suffering around the world, embolden them to speak truth to power, equip them to free the oppressed, liberate them from crushing debt and, most importantly, empower the dreams that will change the world through faithful service for Christ.

ON SUNDAY, NOV. 27, UNITED METHODISTS WILL CELEBRATE UNITED METHODIST STUDENT DAY BY RECEIVING A SPECIAL OFFERING, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH HELP UNITED METHODIST STUDENTS OFFSET THE RISING COSTS OF A COLLEGE OR SEMINARY EDUCATION. Students in each annual conThe Office of Loans and Scholference — and many congregations arships oversees more than 70 — benefit from this offering. scholarship programs, with funds One of six Special Sundays awarded to students who meet authorized by the General Convarying criteria. Award amounts ference, Student Day encourages range from $500 to $10,000. The church members to support average undergraduate award is scholarships for United Methodist $500, and the average graduate students adding knowledge to their award is $1,000. Awards to students faith at United Methodist-related attending United Methodist semseminaries, colleges and univerinaries are an average of $2,000. sities. The funds received from Higher awards may be available the Student Day offering support from scholarship funds with more scholarships awarded through the restrictive criteria and more money. General Board of Higher Educa“Students apply between Janution and Ministry. ary and March each year using the The United Methodist Church general online application (www. recognizes the importance of gbhem.org/loans-and-scholarhelping students pay for higher ships/scholarships),” Collinsworth education, said Allyson Colsaid. “Committees review applilinsworth, executive director of the cations and make award decisions Office of Loans and Scholarships in June, and the GBHEM Loans at the General Board of Higher and Scholarships administers the Education and Ministry. Each year, process to notify recipients and the agency awards about 2,500 scholarships. Preparing a future pastor For 2015, Higher Education and Ministry received $408,155.32 Gift of Hope Scholarship recipient Kiersten Telzerow is thankful to The United Methodist Church for the opportunity to follow her father’s example as a pastor. in Student Day offerings, which “Some denominations do not give women the opportunity to be leaders,” said Telzeprovided part of the $3 million row, a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. “The United Methtotal awarded to 2015 scholarship odist Church not only offers positions for women, but [also] supports and empowers recipients. us. This has given me a platform to understand and recognize that the Holy Spirit “In 2015, we awarded about does not give gifts based on gender. Because of this, I pursued my calling.” 70 percent of the scholarships Telzerow majored in Christian ministries with a minor in leadership. Keeping her to undergraduate students, 28 future congregations healthy is the centerpiece of her education. She could not have attended Indiana Wesleyan without the Gift of Hope Scholarship made possible percent to graduate/seminary through United Methodist Student Day contributions.Now director of small groups for students and 2 percent to doctoral the Barracks Row site of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., Telzerow students,” said Collinsworth. “Of is also working on her master of divinity degree. the scholarships, 63 percent of “The Gift of Hope Scholarship allows students to attend schools that equip them with the funds went to female students an education essential for being a leader in today’s culture,” she said. “[I learned] and 43 percent went to ethnic about conflict resolutions, transformational leadership and other areas that help me students.” take care of my parishioners.”

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

United Methodist Interpreter

students&

The United Methodist Church

Children's Education Fund benefits Sunday school children.

General Education Fund assists young men in minitry and people going into mission.

The Methodist Board of Education awards the first loans, totaling $300.

American Methodists establish the first load fund and first endowment for education. "Education" is the theme for centennial celebrations.

1868 1869

New York charters the Methodist Board of Education to invest educational endowment funds securely.

1872

The Children's Education Fund becomes the first Special Sunday with offereing.

1873

General Conference invites every Sunday school class to contribute on Children's Day.

Three Methodist branches merge, joining the Children's Education Fund and general loan funds.

1939 During World War II, many men forego college and join the military as more women work outside the home.

General Conference Committee on Educaiton establishes National Merit Scholarships created from Student Day offerings. Forty percent of 1945-46 Student Day offerings go toward scholarships.

Childre's Education fund becomes known as Methodist Student Day

1940

1939-1945

General Conference creates the first Methodist Board of Education to manage centenary funds.

1866

ughout the years

The observane provides loans for Mehodist students.

1944

1944-1948

thro

1955

Student Day receipts increase, and more students apply for scholarships than for loans. The Methodist Board of Education distributes loans immediately instead of waiting for earned interest.

1885 1916

The Methodist Board of Eudciation establishes a collection bureau for student loans.

Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches merge, forming The United Methodist Church. Student Day remains, with 95 percent of the offering for scholarships and 5 percent for loans.

While the demand for loans decreases, earnings on the loan fund increase as veterans pay off their loans. Student loan invested reserves go to scholarships — half for current scholarship awards and half for a scholarship endownment.

1968 1972

General Conference establishes the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Demand for loans increases; endowments operates without Student Day receipts.

Promote UM Student Day United Methodists observe Student Day on the fourth Sunday of November. The official date is Nov. 27 this year, although churches may choose another day that is more convenient. Make gifts through the offering plate, at www.umcgiving.org/umsd or by mail to GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203. Please indicate “Student Sunday Offering” in note section.

Be a part of the United Methodist Student Day story. www.umcgiving.org/UMSD All United Methodist Student Day receipts fund scholarships.

The United Methodist Student Loan fund reduces interest to 3.75% with the Borrow Smart repayment option, maknig rates lower than federal student loans.

2005 2011 2012 2015

A guide to help churches celebrate Student Day, a pastor’s leader kit and other resources to promote the offering are available for download at www.umcgiving.org/umsd.

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

The United Methodist Student Loan Fund reduces interest to 5 percent.

Last Sunday in November — Thousands of United Methodists celebrate Student Day, empowering the next generation of leaders.

UMCOM/KATHLEEN BARRY

The method of early Methodism SECOND IN A SERIES

BY JOE IOVINO AS IN OTHER AREAS OF LIFE, BEING PART OF A GROUP HELPS US GROW AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. Many achieve fitness goals by participating in a weight loss or exercise group. Writers and artists join collectives where they regularly comment on one another’s work. Others become better moms and dads as part of a parenting group. Sharing with a group that celebrates our victories, supports us through struggles, and shares tips they have learned along the way increases our chances of improvement. During the Wesley Pilgrimage in England, participants learn about the rich history of disciple-making and disciple-shaping groups in The United Methodist Church. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Pilgrims travel to where it all began, Christ Church in

Oxford, the alma mater of John and Charles Wesley. When John Wesley was a student at Christ Church (no one calls it Christ Church College), he longed for, but never quite found, a group with whom he could share his spiritual growth. When his brother Charles arrived in Oxford to also study at Christ Church, John may have hoped they would support one another in their discipleship. Their mom, Susanna, had instilled in her children from an early age a routine of spiritual accountability. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work. Charles fell into a routine similar to other college students, putting his spiritual growth on hold. John, now studying to become ordained a priest in the Church of England, was elected a fellow at Lincoln College, also in Oxford. As a

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

fellow, Wesley received a room, meals, students to teach and an annual stipend for life, as long as he remained unmarried. Lincoln College proudly remembers John Wesley. A bust of him adorns an exterior wall and a room is decorated in the style of his study. Etched into the glass of the entrance doors of the chapel are the words, “John Wesley, Fellow, 1726-51.” While serving as the curate (associate pastor) of St. Andrew’s Church where his father, the Rev. Samuel Wesley, was rector (lead pastor), John received a letter from Charles. “I ... awoke out of my lethargy,” the younger brother wrote of his renewed desire to focus on his spiritual growth. Charles also asked for tips on keeping a spiritual journal, a practice John found helpful. After John visited Oxford and spent a few more weeks of

United Methodist Interpreter

John Wesley was a fellow at Lincoln College from 1726 until his marriage in 1751.The doors to the chapel are etched in his memory.

working in his home church, Lincoln College asked John to return to the campus and resume his duties as a fellow. Reunited in Oxford, the brothers periodically met with Charles’ friend William Morgan for prayer, Bible study and conversation. They also received the Lord’s Supper at least once a week, earning themselves the nickname “Sacramentarians.” Slowly, the group added members. When Morgan invited the group to join him in visiting the debtors and felons incarcerated at the Castle prison, the Wesleys immediately saw the value of this ministry. After their first visit, John and Charles vowed to return at least weekly.

UMCOM/KATHLEEN BARRY

The method of early Methodism formed similar societies wherever they went. The Wesleys, for example, organized societies in America during their missionary journey to Georgia, and continued meeting with other societies on their return to London. At the invitation of George Whitefield, a former Holy Club member and fellow priest in the Church of England, John traveled to Bristol to continue Whitefield’s ministry of field preaching. Whitefield was leaving for his own missionary journey to America. Wesley preached and began forming the faithful of Bristol into a Methodist Society. The members pursued “holiness of heart and life” by practicing both their love of God and love for their neighbors. Under Wesley’s leadership the Methodist Society in Bristol grew quickly. Just months after his first sermon there, the Methodists began building EXPANDING BEYOND OXFORD a meetinghouse called The As the Holy Club members New Room, which the Wesley graduated from college, they Pilgrimage in England visits. The New Room reflects the holistic approach of the Methodist Society. From the pulpit in the chapel, John Wesley and others preached during the Society meetings, which also included teaching and singing some of Charles Wesley’s hymns. The pilgrims sit in fixed A stained glass window featuring John and Charles pews that are not original to Wesley is found at the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Epworth, England. the building. In The group later joined Morgan in other ministries with which he was involved. Soon these young Oxford men were teaching children, visiting the elderly and caring for the poor as part of their Christian formation. Other students, who didn’t understand their zeal, gave the group mocking nicknames including, Bible-moths, The Holy Club, Supererogation-Men and Methodists. Undeterred, they continued their meetings and ministries. The Oxford Holy Club, the name by which the group is remembered today, studied the Bible, prayed and worshiped together. They also served together, reaching out to those in their community who were in the most need. This holistic approach of Christian formation remained at the heart of the Methodist movement.

United Methodist Interpreter

Wesley’s day, the furniture was removable because the meetinghouse was also used to feed the poor, teach children, distribute remedies to those who could not afford to see a doctor and to serve the community in other ways. THE CLASS: SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

Wesley stumbled upon one of his great innovations while serving the people of Bristol. When a leader suggested that each Society member give a penny a week to pay the debt incurred in construction of the New Room, Wesley divided the society into groups of 12 called classes. Each class was appointed a leader who agreed to collect the money each week, and to pay for those who could not afford it. The weekly visits of the class leaders soon uncovered something unexpected. Methodists attended worship every Sunday. They also came to Society meetings during the week. Some additionally attended a band meeting, a small group of approximately five people of the same gender and marital status, to confess specific sins and struggles to one another. Yet, many struggled in their pursuit of holiness. Soon, weekly class meetings where members reported on the progress and struggles in holiness replaced the oneon-one visits. In those classes, Methodists watched over one another in love. Becoming everyday disciples who pursue holiness of heart and life, who long to have the universal love of God filling their hearts and governing their lives, was the historic goal of the Methodist

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movement, and continues to be the objective of United Methodists today. Like many other areas of life, we know that we grow best when we share the journey with others who share our goals. Wesley formed classes to help the early Methodists live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Many United Methodist congregations are reimagining the class meeting for today by organizing covenant discipleship groups that help form leaders in discipleship. Because this formation happens as part of a group, we are not simply recipients of holiness. We are also helping others love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and love who God loves, as God loves them. Together we worship and celebrate the sacraments. Together we reach out in love and service to the world. Together we are transformed into disciples of Jesus Christ who participate in God’s work of transforming the world. The Rev. Joe Iovino, UMC. org content manager, and photographer Kathleen Barry joined 35 other clergy and laity from Liberia, Nigeria and across the United States on a July 11-21 Wesley Pilgrimage in England. Discipleship Ministries, the General Commission on Archives and History and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsor the pilgrimage annually. Learn more at www.umcdiscipleship. org/leadership-resources/ wesley-pilgrimage-in-england. This article is adapted from a series of articles originally published at UMC.org. Find related articles there.

Getting wired for God

Technology

discharged tablet for middle school kids.” I was surprised as person after person voiced concern that our technology is getting in the way of our spiritual growth. But, I shouldn’t have been. Research continues to show that too much screen time is incredibly unhealthy for our children’s minds. Research seems to indicate that as our engagement with the many screens in our world increases, it decreases the time that we are engaged with people in other ways. As that happens, we become less and less able to relate and empathize with others. The young adults involved in faith are sensing this and are turning to less technological tools to explore and grow spiritually. They are not eschewing technology altogether, but they are limiting its influence. Becca Griffin, worship leader for the Wesley

The Rev. Jeremy Steele and his wife, Laura, spend time with daughter Hannah Claire.

COURTESY PHOTO

love technology. When I see an iPadshaped box under the tree, I get excited. This article was supposed to be a gift guide for all those who would be braving the crowds at the big box stores or waking up early to log onto their favorite online retailer to catch the perfect deal. It was supposed to be an opportunity for me to help people discover an app like Accordance for the scholar-type or talk about how Amazon Prime includes every Veggie Tale to help your kids grow closer to God. However, when I sent out interview requests to the usual cast of passionate experts on what tech products can help your family members grow closer to God, I got a long list of responses like this one from Kevin Alton, content curator for Science for Youth Ministry: “Grow spiritually? Probably a completely

COURTESY PHOTO

Abandon the screens; focus on the people

His children are among the people the Rev. Jeremy Steele will be spending time with during the holidays. From left are Hannah Claire, Caleb, Mary Virgnia and Andrew.

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Foundation at Tennessee Technological University, mentors the young adults through a transformation process called Seeds. During sessions, they replace their screen time with intentional community reflection and give up doodle apps for a large space to write on for half of the lesson. More and more people are finding it necessary to deliberately limit their time with technological devices in order to carve out space for the spiritual and relational. For those like Griffin, that means taking a technology Sabbath where she turns off her phone, intentionally leaves the technology behind and pays attention to the people and places around her. Instead of giving you technological picks for gift giving, I encourage you to have a technology-free holiday. Sit down, talk with your family and decide how to handle it. You might not need to lock your wireless router in a safe, but maybe you decide as a family to leave the phones under the tree or decide to forgo multihour watching of a sporting event on television. Instead, talk. Tell stories of holidays past. Spend time without a screen between you and the ones you love.

United Methodist Interpreter

The Rev. Jeremy Steele is Next Generation Minister at Christ United Methodist Church, Mobile, Alabama. He is an author, blogger at jeremywords. com and a frequent contributor to MyCom, an e-newsletter published by United Methodist Communications.

STREAMING ON CHRISTMAS EVE? LET US KNOW! Overwhelmingly, Interpreter readers say attending a candlelight service on Christmas Eve is their most meaningful holiday tradition. And, as the Rev. Jeremy Steele writes on this page, this season can be the perfect time to put away the screens and focus on face-to-face encounters with family and friends. However, for those for whom attending a service in person is not possible, watching one streamed live may be the next best thing. Interpreter is compiling a list of United Methodist churches that will be streaming one or more services live on Christmas Eve. We will post them at www.interpretermagazine.org on Dec. 15. To be included, send the following to interpreter@umcom.org no later than Monday, Dec. 12: »» Name of your church, city and state »» Time of the live streaming (including time zone – for example, Eastern, Mountain, Central European) »» URL of the website to connect to the live stream »» Name and email of a contact person

United Methodist Interpreter

NOVEMBER â&#x20AC;¢ DECEMBER 2016

Index

VO LU M E 6 0 – 2 0 1 6

A WAY FORWARD

Bishops’ executive committee affirms unity, moves forward (Council of Bishops) (Sept/Oct, 40) Leading to preserve unity (Gilbert/Hahn/ Hodges) (July/Aug, 41)

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY

A festive end to Christmastide: Boar’s Head Festival (Solomon) (Nov/Dec, 48) A time of sacred waiting: Keeping Advent at home (Solomon) (Nov/Dec, 44) Anticipating Advent (Noble) (Sept/Oct, 54) Festival of MinisTrees brings awareness (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 8) Large puppets take stage (Kumar) (Nov/ Dec, 12) Make Advent a countercultural experience (Wesley Theological Seminary) (Nov/ Dec, 46)

BIBLE

Bible readings around the clock (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 10) New Bible study expands ‘God’ images, names (Armistead) (Jan/Feb, 46)

BISHOPS

20 bishops to be elected (UMNS/ Interpreter) (July/Aug, 44) U.S. bishops begin new assignments (Bloom) (Sept/Oct, 38)

CHANGE (SEPT/OCT)

Change is certain (Noble) (Sept/Oct, 3) Churches begin, die and live again (House) (Sept/Oct, 28) Five clues for successfully changing while growing (Isner) (Sept/Oct, 31) Move to multiethnicity is not easy (Snell) (Sept/Oct, 24) Navigating change (Holmes) (Sept/ Oct, 21) One Matters (House) (Sept/Oct, 51) Thinking about adding or changing a worship service? (Solomon) (Sept/ Oct, 33) Transformational change (Krause) (Sept/ Oct, 6) When you have a new pastor (Agtarap) (Sept/Oct, 23)

CHILDREN

Database helps readers find books by gender, color, topic (Bruckbauer) (May/ June, 12) Ginger’s birthday party bash (Kumar) (May/June, 10) Handmade beds for children in need (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 8) Keep kids busy, learning this summer (Facebook) (May/June, 42) Let the children give (Hinnen) (July/ Aug, 35) Special treats for Trunk or Treat (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 10)

CHURCH AND SOCIETY (BOARD OF)

A beacon on Capitol Hill – The United Methodist Building (Alsgaard) (March/ April, 34) Abby Martin: High schooler gains insight into domestic violence (House) (March/ April, 46) Encouraging social awareness and action (Gillem) (March/April, 14) Damaris Nicholson: PK champions racial equality (Solomon) (March/April, 32) Database helps readers find books by gender, color, topic (Bruckbauer) (May/ June, 12) Hilde Marie Øgreid Movafagh: “Linking social justice with theology, spirituality (Dunlap-Berg) (March/April, 37) Joseph Kim: Interning shaped his faith (Edgemon) (March/April, 23) Joshua S. Kulah: Ethnic Young Adult internship sharpens career focus (Dunlap-Berg) (March/April, 40) Kathleen Kind: Forum started young leader on advocacy path (Solomon) (March/April, 29) Laura Bensman: Putting faith in action clarifies call (Edgemon) (March/April, 41) Ministry WITH* focuses on partnerships (Edgemon) (March/April, 28) Paul Perez: Intern claimed his voice (Solomon) (March/April, 46) Timeline illustrates ‘living faith’ (Childers/Karandy) (March/April, 14) United Methodists play key role at U.N. (Dunlap-Berg/House) (March/April, 32)

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Health care professionals honored at worship service (Kumar) (May/June, 10) Military families support one another (Kumar) (Nov/Dec, 11)

CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Church planting is United Methodist tradition (House) (Jan/Feb, 23) Grants help churches get noticed (Solomon) (May/June, 20) Northernmost United Methodist congregation thrives (Lundereng/ Ellingsen) (May/June, 24)

CONNECTIONAL GIVING

Connecting through giving, United Methodists change lives (Solomon) (July/Aug, 28) ‘Together We Do More’ (Noble) (July/ Aug, 27)

CONNECTIONALISM

Appalachian Trail chaplain engaged in ups and downs of journeys (Caviness) (May/June, 36) Bowls of hope feed kids’ bodies, moms’ spirits (Agtarap/Valera) (May/June, 38) Cokesbury Cares helps churches stay in ministry (Dunlap-Berg) (Jan/Feb, 48) E-readers spark connections (Noble) (Jan/ Feb, 47)

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Hope for the long haul in Flint (DeMoss) (May/June, 28) Pastor, congregation journey with man on death row (Dunlap-Berg) (May/June, 22) ‘The connection’ offers prayers, presence, gifts, service (Brodie/Wolfe/Kim) (May/ June, 40) United (Noble) (May/June, 19)

CREATION CARE

Climate justice is everyone’s issue (Armistead) (March/April, 30)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pastor, congregation journey with man on death row (Dunlap-Berg) (May/June, 22) Seeking justice through sentencing reform (House) (March/April, 24)

CROSS-CULTURE MINISTRY

Move to multiethnicity is not easy (Snell) (Sept/Oct, 24) Religion and Race helps churches embrace cross-culture ministry (Agtarap) (Jan/Feb, 40)

DISASTER RESPONSE

Answering calls for help in Ecuador, Texas (UMNS) (May/June, 44) UMCOR helps survivors as long as it takes (House) (Nov/Dec, 14)

ELECTIONS

Election Day communion (House) (Nov/ Dec, 38) Voting: A prayerful act (Henry-Crowe) (Nov/Dec, 36) Voting as discipleship (Davis) (Nov/ Dec, 39) Voting as discipleship (Lambrecht) (Nov/ Dec, 40) Voting as discipleship (Renno) (Nov/ Dec, 42) Welcome visitors to your church (House) (Nov/Dec, 38)

EVANGELISM

Boomerstock: Evangelizing baby boomers (Discipleship Ministries) (Sept/Oct, 12) One Matters (House) (Sept/Oct, 51)

FROM THE EDITOR (NOBLE) Change is certain (Sept/Oct, 3) State of the Church (Jan/Feb, 3) The gift of grace (Nov/Dec, 3) United (May/June, 19)

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016

$604 million general church budget passes (Hahn) (July/Aug, 54) Be part of GC2016 (March/April, 63) Budget proposal still in flux (Hahn) (March/April, 62) Briefing previews 2016 General Conference debates (UMNS) (March/ April, 55) Delegates, actions illustrate ‘worldwide’ (Butler/Hodges) (July/Aug, 55) Delegates leave coalition; adopt principles (Alsgaard/Gilbert/Hodges) (July/Aug, 52) Delegates recall, lament Sand Creek

United Methodist Interpreter

massacre (Hodges) (July/Aug, 51) Four constitutional changes need ratification (UMNS/InfoServ) (July/ Aug, 50) Free exploring General Conference study (UMCommunications) (May/June, 48) General Conference 2016: A Primer (LaBarr, Noble) (Jan/Feb, 52) Green light for new hymnal project (Hodges) (July/Aug, 54) Laity offer thoughts on state of the church (Jan/Feb, 34) Leading to preserve unity (Gilbert/Hahn/ Hodges) (July/Aug, 41) Legislation expands local church options (Noble/Wallace) (July/Aug, 48) Many ways to be part of GC 2016 (without buying a plane ticket) (Steele) (May/June, 48) Prayer surrounding GC 2016 (Gilbert) (Jan/Feb, 51) Proposals expected to generate difficult debate (Hahn/Gilbert) (March/April, 60) Taking time to serve (Marigza/Gerhardt) (July/Aug, 45) There’s a redesigned app (Jan/Feb, 11) Time to celebrate, time to commit (Barry/ DuBose/Jeffrey) (July/Aug, 46) Unity stressed in post-GC pastoral letter (Council of Bishops) (July/Aug, 42)

GENEROSITY (JULY/AUGUST)

Connecting through giving, United Methodists change lives (Solomon) (July/Aug, 28) Cultivating generous people (Agtarap) (July/Aug, 34) Electronic giving raises techno-, theological questions (Steele) (July/Aug, 38) Giving time and service (Agtarap) (July/ Aug, 30) Let the children give (Hinnen) (July/ Aug, 35) Live gratefully, live generously (Snell) (July/Aug, 19) John Wesley on giving (Carder) (July/ Aug, 21) Preaching, teaching generosity (House) (July/Aug, 24) The ‘third rail’ of being a pastor: knowing who gives (Alsgaard) (July/Aug, 36) ‘Together We Do More’ (Noble) (July/ Aug, 27) WAYS: What does it mean to live a generous life, to follow a generous lifestyle? (July/Aug, 13) Why I Give (Readers) (July/Aug, 21, 23, 32, 34)

GIVING

Electronic giving raises techno-, theological questions (Steele) (July/Aug, 38) John Wesley on giving (Carder) (July/ Aug, 21) The ‘third rail’ of being a pastor: knowing who gives (Alsgaard) (July/Aug, 36) UMC #GivingTuesday is Nov. 29 (GBGM) (Nov/Dec, 15)

GLOBAL CHURCH

Being the hands of ‘Christus’ in Germany (House) (May/June, 30) Building peace in Nigeria (Snell) (March/ April, 26) Church planting is United Methodist tradition (House) (Jan/Feb, 23) Delegates, actions illustrate ‘worldwide’

(Butler/Hodges) (July/Aug, 55) Empowering women for abundant living (Agtarap) (March/April, 19) Focus on ‘bright spots’ can yield vitality (Canlas) (Jan/Feb, 21) Learning and living the Social Principles in Eurasia (Butler) (March/April, 41) Northernmost United Methodist congregation thrives (Lundereng/ Ellingsen) (May/June, 24) ‘Worldwide’ is more than geographic (Noble) (Jan/Feb, 32)

GRACE

A Wesleyan understanding of grace (Carder) (Nov/Dec, 26) Abundant grace: A crash course (Solomon) (Nov/Dec, 21) Abundant grace: ‘Camp means love’ (Skinner) (Nov/Dec, 24) Abundant grace: Somebody cared (Slentz) (Nov/Dec, 24) Abundant grace: Squeaky-clean grace (Solomon) (Nov/Dec, 25) God’s grace: Presented/represented through the sacraments (Alsgaard) (Nov/Dec, 30) Living grace (Hollums) (Nov/Dec, 22) Responding with piety and mercy (Snell) (Nov/Dec, 32) The gift of grace (Holmes) (Nov/Dec, 18) Why do we call it ‘grace?’ (Noble) (Nov/ Dec, 62)

GUIDED BY OUR PRINCIPLES (MARCH/APRIL ISSUE)

A beacon on Capitol Hill – The United Methodist Building (Alsgaard) (March/ April, 34) Building peace in Nigeria (Snell) (March/ April, 26) Changing lives, building understanding (Travis) (March/April 44) Climate justice is everyone’s issue (Armistead) (March/April, 30) Empowering women for abundant living (Agtarap) (March/April, 19) Encouraging social awareness and action (Gillem) (March/April, 14) Health care: What does the Lord require? (Isner) (March/April, 21) Helping millennials find a passion for justice (Solomon) (March/April, 38) Learning and living the Social Principles in Eurasia (Butler) (March/April 41) Learn more about ‘Our Social Creed’ and The Social Principles (March/April, 41) Ministry WITH* focuses on partnerships (Edgemon) (March/April, 28) Reimagining, rewriting the Social Principles (Noble) (March/April, 47) Seeking justice through sentencing reform (House) (March/April, 24) Timeline illustrates ‘living faith’ (Childers/Karandy) (March/April, 14) United Methodists play key role at U.N. (Dunlap-Berg/House) (March/April, 32)

HEALTH

‘AIDS is not over yet,’ United Methodists continue fight (House) (Nov/Dec, 50) AIDS seminar set in May (UM Global AIDS Fund) (Jan/Feb, 15) Global health advances merit celebrating (Solomon) (Jan/Feb, 30) Health care: What does the Lord require? (Isner) (March/April, 21)

Health care professionals honored at worship service (Kumar) (May/June, 10) Imagine No Malaria: Closing in on a killer (Solomon) (Jan/Feb, 31)

HIGHER EDUCATION

Campus ministry provides a critical ink (Butler) (Sept/Oct, 47) Grants available for campus discipleship ministries (Foundation for Evangelism) (July/Aug, 12) More ordinands are UM-seminary grads (GBHEM) (Sept/Oct, 50) Offering helps students defray higher education costs (House) (Nov/Dec, 54)

HISPANICS/LATINOS

UMC Spanglish bridging cultures (Snell) (May/June, 26)

HISTORY

For churchgoers, treasures from the ‘family album’ (Hahn) (Jan/Feb, 44)

I AM UNITED METHODIST (PROFILES)

Wanda Carpenter (Dunlap-Berg) (Sept/ Oct, 56) D. Anthony Everett (House) (March/ April, 65) Billie K. Fidlin (Dunlap-Berg) (May/ June, 46) Monica Kleman (Caviness) (Jan/Feb, 56) The Rev. Wendell E. Williams (DunlapBerg) (July/Aug, 56)

LAITY

A different vision (Fowler) (Jan/Feb, 35) A new day of choices (Harper) (Jan/ Feb, 36) Emphasize WITH* (Spyres) (Jan/Feb, 38) ‘Fear not! I am with you!’ (Neal) (Jan/ Feb, 39) God unites us (Cibuabua) (Jan/Feb, 34) ‘I am excited to be United Methodist’ (Harkness) (Jan/Feb, 36) Laity Sunday 2016: Living vital worship (Cataldo) (Sept/Oct, 14) Reasons for hope (Johnson) (Jan/Feb, 37) ‘The future is very bright’ (Mafunda) (Jan/Feb, 38)

LENT/EASTER/PENTECOST

Puzzle pieces add to worship (Kumar) (March/April, 10) Which came first: Easter or the eggs (Dunlap-Berg) (Jan/Feb, 49) Why do some United Methodists not sing ‘alleluia’ during Lent? (Benedict) (Jan/ Feb, 56)

MINISTRY (ORDAINED, LICENSED) New candidacy guidebook available (GBHEM) (July/Aug, 11) Starting points to develop Christian leaders (Hinnen) (Jan/Feb, 26)

MINISTRY WITH THE POOR

Through ministries with the poor, receivers become givers (Dunlap-Berg) (Jan/Feb, 28)

MISSIONS

A princess on prom day (Kumar) (March/ April, 8) Being the hands of ‘Christus’ in Germany (House) (May/June, 30) Bowls of hope feed kids’ bodies, moms’

United Methodist Interpreter

spirits (Agtarap/Valera) (May/June, 38) Bushes sprout flip-flips, socks (Kumar) (July/Aug, 9) Churches feed community on Christmas morning (Kumar) (Nov/Dec, 10) Congregation does what comes naturally (House) (May/June, 33) Festival of MinisTrees brings awareness (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 8) Fostering Hope to children (Kumar) (May/ June, 8) Global Mission Fellows applications due (Bohol) (Jan/Feb, 11) Handmade beds for children in need (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 8) Hope for the long haul in Flint (DeMoss) (May/June, 28) New book for Volunteers in Mission (GBGM) (May/June, 13) UMC #GivingTuesday is Nov. 29 (GBGM) (Nov/Dec, 15) UMCOR aiding uprooted Syrians (Tereshchuk/Unger) (May/June, 34) UMCOR Sager Brown sets young adult weeks (UMCOR, GBGM) (Jan/Feb, 16)

NATIVE AMERICANS

Delegates recall, lament Sand Creek massacre (Hodges) (July/Aug, 51)

OLDER ADULTS

Boomerstock: Evangelizing baby boomers (Discipleship Ministries) (Sept/Oct, 12)

OUTREACH

Appalachian Trail chaplain engaged in ups and downs of journeys (Caviness) (May/June, 36) Brats for college seniors (Kumar) (May/ June, 8) Churches feed community on Christmas morning (Kumar) (Nov/Dec, 10) Cold water for mail carriers (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 8) Fiesta Night fun for families, children (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 8) Military families support one another (Kumar) (Nov/Dec, 11) One Matters (House) (Sept/Oct, 51) Praying for their community (Kumar) (July/Aug, 10) Repair Café on the mend (Kumar) (March/April, 8) Showing appreciation for law enforcement (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 11) Special treats for Trunk or Treat (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 10) Tractor blessing a serious ritual (Kumar) (July/Aug, 10)

PRAYER

Praying for their community (Kumar) (July/Aug, 10)

PUBLISHER’S PAGE (KRAUSE)

A momentous year has begun (Jan/ Feb, 6) Grace: A song for singing (Nov/Dec, 6) More blessed to give (July/Aug, 6) Transformational change (Sept/Oct, 6) United we help millions (May/June, 6) Would John Wesley have used hashtags? (March/April, 6)

RACE RELATIONS

A letter to Martin Luther King Jr. (White) (Jan/Feb, 54) ‘Vital Conversations’ study guide ready

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

(Religion and Race) (March/April, 13)

REFLECTIONS/LETTERS

Jan/Feb, 7; March/April, 7; July/Aug, 7; Nov/Dec, 7

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Being the hands of ‘Christus’ in Germany (House) (May/June, 30) Churches ready to welcome Syrian refugees (House) (May/June, 32) Fight will continue until none are trafficked (Snell) (Jan/Feb, 41) Freedom Party fights human trafficking (Kumar) (Jan/Feb, 10) Seeking justice through sentencing reform (House) (March/April, 24) Shaping youth to change communities (West Ohio Conference) (March/April, 12)

SOCIAL PRINCIPLES

Delegates leave coalition, adopt principles (Alsgaard/Gilbert/Hodges) (July/Aug, 52) Encouraging social awareness and action (Gillem) (March/April, 14) Learning and living the Social Principles in Eurasia (Butler) (March/April, 41) Learn more about ‘Our Social Creed’ and The Social Principles (March/April, 41) Reimagining, rewriting the Social Principles (Noble) (March/April, 47)

SPECIAL SUNDAYS

Native American Ministries: Special Sunday serves as reminder of Native American contributions (House) (March/ April, 50) Offering helps students defray higher education costs (House) (Nov/Dec, 54) Peace with Justice: Changing lives, building understanding (Travis) (March/ April 44) World Communion Scholar connecting church, society (Brands) (Sept/Oct, 12)

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Podcasts give the spirit a workout (House) (Nov/Dec, 15) The method of early Methodism (Iovino) (Nov/Dec, 56)

STATE OF THE CHURCH REPORT (JAN/FEB ISSUE)

Church planting is United Methodist tradition (House) (Jan/Feb, 23) Cokesbury Cares helps churches stay in ministry (Dunlap-Berg) (Jan/Feb, 48) E-readers spark connections (Noble) (Jan/ Feb, 47) Future Focused/Mission Driven: Strategic Directions for 2017-20 (Quadrennial Report of the Connectional Table) (Jan/ Feb, 19) Fight will continue until none are trafficked (Snell) (Jan/Feb, 41) Focus on ‘bright spots’ can yield vitality (Canlas) (Jan/Feb, 21) For churchgoers, treasures from the ‘family album’ (Hahn) (Jan/Feb, 44) Global health advances merit celebrating (Solomon) (Jan/Feb, 30) Healthy churches birth healthy churches (House) (Jan/Feb, 22) Imagine No Malaria: Closing in on a killer (Solomon) (Jan/Feb, 31)

I N D E X / / VO LU M E 6 0 – 2 0 1 6 Laity offer thoughts on state of the church (Jan/Feb, 34) New Bible study expands ‘God’ images, names (Armistead) (Jan/Feb, 46) Religion and Race helps churches embrace cross-culture ministry (Agtarap) (Jan/Feb, 40) Starting points to develop Christian leaders (Hinnen) (Jan/Feb, 26) Through ministries with the poor, receivers become givers (Dunlap-Berg) (Jan/Feb, 28) Wesleyan Building Brothers creates relationships (Snell) (Jan/Feb, 43) ‘Worldwide’ is more than geographic (Noble) (Jan/Feb, 32)

TECHNOLOGY

Abandon the screens; focus on the people (Steele) (Nov/Dec, 58) @LocateWesley connects students, ministries (Steele) (Sept/Oct, 57) Electronic giving raises techno-, theological questions (Steele) (July/Aug, 38) Expanding ministry via video streaming (Steele) (March/April, 64) Free exploring General Conference study (UMCommunications) (May/June, 48) French-language portal launches on UMC.org (UM Communications) (May/ June, 13) Many ways to be part of GC 2016 (without buying a plane ticket) (Steele) (May/June, 48) MOYO: Where contemplation and action meet (MOYO) (Jan/Feb, 57) Online giving can increase blessings – for givers and churches (Steele) (July/ Aug, 57) Podcasts give the spirit a workout (House) (Nov/Dec, 15) UMC pastors, leaders ahead of tech game (UM Communications) (Jan/ Feb, 16) Virtual accountability (Steele) (Jan/ Feb, 57) Watch missionaries tell their stories (GBGM) (July/Aug, 57)

TO BE UNITED METHODIST

Faith when the world seems wicked (Iovino) (Sept/Oct, 58) Saying ‘good-bye’ to a beloved pastor and welcoming a new one (Iovino) (May/June, 50) Who was Francis Asbury? (UM Videos/ UMC.org) (March/April, 66) Why do some United Methodists not sing ‘alleluia’ during Lent? (Benedict) (Jan/ Feb, 56) Why do we call it ‘grace?’ (Noble) (Nov/ Dec, 62) Why do we have prayers of confession in worship? (Iovino) (July/Aug, 58)

UNITED METHODIST COMMUNICATIONS

Are you reading MyCom? (Interpreter) (May/June, 12) E-readers spark connections (Noble) (Jan/ Feb, 47) French-language portal launches on UMC.org (UM Communications) (May/ June, 13)

UNITED METHODIST IDENTITY

The method of early Methodism (Iovino) (Nov/Dec, 56) Wesley pilgrimage inspires today’s leaders (Iovino) (Sept/Oct, 36)

UNITED METHODIST MEN

‘Missing in Action’ focuses on bringing men back to the church (House) (July/ Aug, 12) Wesleyan Building Brothers creates relationships (Snell) (Jan/Feb, 43)

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Fight will continue until none are trafficked (Snell) (Jan/Feb, 41)

VITAL CONGREGATIONS

Healthy churches birth healthy churches (House) (Jan/Feb, 22)

WE ASKED ... YOU SAID

How does your faith help you get through times of change? (Sept/Oct, 16) How will you begin or continue practicing Sabbath this spring and summer? What will you do to draw closer to God? (May/ June, 14) What does it mean to live a generous life, to follow a generous lifestyle? (July/ Aug, 13) What do you do to show appreciation of our created world? (March/April, 14) What is your hope for The United Methodist Church in 2016? (Jan/Feb, 17) What is your most meaningful personal or family Advent/Christmas tradition? (Nov/Dec, 16)

WORSHIP

A natural sanctuary (Kumar) (July/Aug, 8) Celebrate with ‘Able’ lyrics, backgrounds (UMCommunications) (July/Aug, 11) Celebrating Christian Home Month (Kumar) (March/April, 10) Puzzle pieces add to worship (Kumar) (March/April, 10) Thinking about adding or changing a worship service? (Solomon) (Sept/ Oct, 33) To sing or not to sing (Burton-Edwards) (March/April, 12) Tractor blessing a serious ritual (July/ Aug, 10)

YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS

Global Mission Fellows applications due (Bohol) (Jan/Feb, 15) Helping millennials find a passion for justice (Solomon) (March/April, 38) Honor roll students eat with pastor (Kumar) (Nov/Dec, 10) NEXT empowers collegians (GBHEM) (Sept/Oct, 14) Resource helps teens explore dating relationships (Discipleship Ministries) (March/April, 11) Shaping youth to change communities (West Ohio Conference) (March/April, 12) Showing appreciation for law enforcement (Kumar) (Sept/Oct, 11) UMCOR Sager Brown sets young adult weeks (UMCOR, GBGM) (Jan/Feb, 16)

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2016

Beliefs, practices, identity

To Be United Methodist Why do we call it ‘grace?’

hy is the prayer before meals often called “grace?” The word grace, when applied to a prayer over food, means thanksgiving. On the simplest level, saying grace means offering thanksgiving — grace comes from the Latin gratiarum actio, “act of thanks.” To say grace before meals is, among other things, to remember that it was God, not one’s own means, that provided the meal. Saying grace or saying the blessing follows the examples of Jesus and the apostle Paul, both of whom said grace before meals (see Acts 27:35). In Matthew’s accounts of Jesus feeding thousands of people with only a small amount of food, before Jesus “broke the bread” (started the meal), he thanked God for it. Apparently, giving thanks before a meal was Jesus’ customary practice. In Luke 24:13-35, the account of the walk to Emmaus, the disciples at first do not recognize with whom they are traveling. When, at the table, Jesus “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them” (v. 30), immediately, the disciples recognized the resurrected Christ. It was “when he broke the bread” (v. 35) and gave thanks that their eyes were opened. Since we owe everything we have to God’s grace, it is appropriate to thank God always (Ephesians 5:20). Meals provide a good time to pause and do just that. The prayer by which we “say grace” may take different forms – and is a practice that crosses the boundaries between religions. A familiar prayer that is said or sung (to many different tunes) at gatherings of United Methodists is what we often call the “Wesleyan grace”: Be present at our table, Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless and grant that we may feast in fellowship with Thee. Amen Adapted by the Rev. Kathy Noble, Interpreter editor, from gotquestions.org, newadvent.org and oprah.com. United Methodist Interpreter

From the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

Two New Books That Would Make Wesley Proud

A Wesleyan Theology of the Eucharist: The Presence of God for Christian Life and Ministry This book brings together noted Wesleyans who seek to recover the importance of Holy Communion. These leading scholars reflect on the Eucharist in connection with each of the major areas of Christian theology and on the relationship between the Eucharist and aspects of Christian life and ministry.

Grace To Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition (revised edition) Christian leadership is theological from beginning to end. Carder and Warner explore the rich Wesleyan theological grounding for such leadership with its abundant emphasis on grace. They remind readers that for Wesley, all methods emerge from the theological imperatives and missional direction of God revealed in Christ.

Available November 2016 at cokesbury.com and amazon.com

Available December 2016 at cokesbury.com and amazon.com

gbhem.org

POSTCARD AND DOOR HANGER ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY DECEMBER 1ST

A GENTLE REMINDER THAT

NOVEMBER IS THE LAST MONTH TO ORDER ADVENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH TOOLS. THERE IS STILL TIME TO ORDER YOUR ADVENT DIRECT MAIL POSTCARDS AND DOOR HANGERS, BUT THE DECEMBER 1ST DEADLINE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING. All season long, we will continue to make other resources available including worship

United Methodist Communications makes it easy to raise awareness about your services and activities.

100 FREE

DOOR HANGERS

graphics and bulletin covers. Paired with our national broadcast and online advertising

(While Supplies Last)

campaign, which launches December 5th, our community outreach tools and worship

Customized and printed to promote the service of your choosing.

resources deliver a consistent RETHINK CHURCH message while providing a simple way to let your community know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening at your church.

umcom.org/rethinkchurch

Order online at umcom.org/rethinkchurch

EXCLUSIVELY FOR INTERPRETER DIGITAL READERS, access to the

2016 State of the Church Report and the November-December issue of New World Outlook. CLICK ON THE COVER TO READ THE HANDBOOK OR NEW WORLD OUTLOOK.

“Religions Freedom: Grounded in Love” is the theme with articles exploring what religious freedom means, modern martyrdom, living where faith is a minority religion and freedom for all faiths.

FUTURE-FOCUSED MISSION DRIVEN TOGETHER IN MISSION FOR SAKE OF THE WORLD

Review quickly the work of United Methodists in the Four Areas of Focus and the Vital Congregations initiative during the 2013-16 quadrennium, goals for 2017-20 and new statistics on membership and giving.