We celebrate our recent church conference vote to become a Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) Congregation. On Sunday, Aug. 20, we agreed by 95% (89-2-3) to this important step on our journey of being a church that is open to all, especially those who are LGBTQIA+. This Sunday, Aug. 27 we will rejoice together at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. with Rainbow Worship in honor of this decision and PrideFest the day before. We will take a congregation photo for RMN, so please wear either an FUMC T-shirt or a brightly colored shirt.
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“I need to tell you something,” my 104-year-old Grandpa said to me in a serious tone. I leaned in a little closer. “I can’t do it like I used to a year ago. One hundred and four isn’t 103!”
We both sat back at laughed. “I’ll have to take your word for it, Grandpa!” I told him. Most of us will probably never reach that 104-year mile marker. But we recognize on a regular basis that our bodies, minds, and spirits have limitations. I recently told a friend that I wish I had the wisdom I do now in my 25-year-old body. I’m sure many of you feel the same way.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be a reconciling congregation? Why are we taking this step?
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As a pastor, I’m sometimes invited to walk with people in very sacred spaces. The decision to transition genders is one of these spaces. This step is never taken lightly because it involves the entirety of a person – body, hormones, sex organs, mind, spirit, identity, and often a name and pronoun change. It is a very personal decision, and for youth, a family decision involving parents or guardians.
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When modern Christians say they wish they could go back to the good ole days of the early church, we have to break the news to them. There were no good ole days. From the beginning, the church faced debates, infighting, struggles, and division. Paul got wind of these storms and sent a letter of comfort and challenge to the young church. The letter is comforting because Paul reminded them of their unity in Christ. It was challenging because Paul refused to let them perpetuate lesser differences which threatened that unity. How might Paul challenge us today in our own fractured denomination that appears beyond repair?
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On Sunday, we’ll learn more about what gold, frankincense, and myrrh represented. For now, I hope you’ll reflect on this scene: Weary, stinky travelers from a far-off land who are outside of Jesus’ tight-knit Jewish community. They haven’t grown up hearing the stories of the Hebrew heroes. Yet they recognize the Divine when they find him. And their response is to rejoice, to worship, and to offer gifts that only they can give.
Read MoreAll three of these new bishops are committed to abeyance, which means holding complaints around LGBTQIA+ clergy and same-sex weddings without acting on them. This is an important move for us as a jurisdiction to ensure that our churches are safe, welcoming places for all people.
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The U.N. has proposed a rapid-action force, but it’s not clear that countries will participate. USAID has sent a disaster response team, but so much more help is needed. Please commit with me to pray for the people of Haiti to find hunger relief and hope for the future.
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Helen’s and my interest in Choir began when were dating in El Paso, TX at Asbury Methodist Church. She received a Bachelor of Music at SMU. Helen has the musical talent; my interest was in sports. But we found a common interest in singing in the Asbury Church Choir. Arriving in Bloomington, we went to FUMC for their outstanding Music Program. This was in 1967, and we have been fortunate to remain serving in the Chancel Choir to the present. The music that our Directors provide for us to present not only impacts the congregation, but is very moving to the Choir as well.
We serve as we can to help lead the congregation in worship, and receive blessings for ourselves as well. We have found a support group within the Chancel Choir’s members. The blessings we’ve received from our service are the many friends we have made because of our participation in the Choir.
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Discipleship Hour helps us grow in our faith. Classes are offered for both kids and adults, so there’s something for everyone. We really enjoyed the “Wired Word” classes in the summer that connected faith with current events. The Discipleship Hour also gives us opportunities to connect with other church members, learn their stories, and build relationships. It’s also a great way to help out and give back to the church, so I now teach the 2nd-4th grade class every other month.
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Singing with the Chancel Choir gives me the opportunity to engage deeply in the traditional worship service in a truly meaningful way. When I hear and sing along with the music that Dr. Prestinari so carefully and purposefully chooses for each worship, I am able to engage with the service and be "one" with its message. Sharing in music making as a member of Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church touches my soul. I feel the music inside me, as the text speaks to me in profound ways. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to sing with such an incredibly talented and gifted group as we praise God, share our gifts of music, and humbly serve the Lord.
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I have worked at MCUM as a volunteer alongside my Mom for many years and then independently while I was in middle school during the COVID pandemic. I spent a lot time sorting and boxing up food and personal care items in the MCUM self-sufficiency center. I was able to help other friends learn about MCUM through food drives, cleaning/hygiene drives, other special projects and even a larger food drives with Jackson Creek Middle School, St. Mark's United Methodist and Scout Troop 100.
As for my Eagle Project, the MCUM director really wanted to see a sensory playground for all of the kids in the Compass Early Learning Center. I was excited when they approached me about working on this and I was really excited to work on this for my Eagle Scout project. MCUM received some grants, but I learned really quickly that playgrounds are very expensive and there are a large number of regulations that have to be followed. In the end, we were able to provide the kids in every playground space with sandboxes, a couple fence-mounted sensory activity boards, and painted tricycle tracks for bike riding.
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As a family, we love finding ways we can serve together -- which can be a challenge with younger kids. We care deeply about teaching our children to respect and nurture our environment, so gardening and creation care are natural outpourings of that desire. We have been happy to help play a role in getting FUMCB's garden efforts off the ground this year -- we've started small as we've experimented with the beds and the space, but it's been great to deliver some produce to the food pantry. It's also been great to look at the landscaping around the church and focus on invasive species removal. There are certainly ways we can grow these efforts next year and we hope to help with gardening for food and pollinators alike in the future!
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Nothing makes me more spiritually nervous than people who claim to have a corner market on the Truth. “God said it, I believe it, that settles it,” may make a catchy bumper sticker, but it’s a very poor foundation for a nuanced faith in a complicated world. In fact, it is dangerously narrow-minded in light of the complex nature of our Scripture.
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Born and bred a Midwesterner, I’ve been conditioned to be nice. Even if I object to something or someone, the greatest offense I could commit would be rudeness. Well, I’m tired of being nice while my siblings of color live in fear of being gunned down in hate attacks at the supermarket or church.
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We often see the world in black and white when it comes to the church, politics, and our personal lives. You’re right or wrong. You’re red or blue. You’re in or out. Yet most situations in life are much more complex. I want to invite you to take a deep breath. Spend a few minutes of silence with God. Prepare yourself to live in the uncertainty of the grey areas.
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When I was 15 years old, I sat on the floor at a youth event where the room was dimly lit by a candle. The crucifixion story was read. I was reminded how God sent Jesus to die for my sins. For added effect, someone pounded a nail into a two-by-four.
Read MoreThis new mask policy was approved by the Governing Board on March 28, 2022 and is effective immediately.
We will follow the CDC community level for Monroe County.
When the county is at or approaching high risk, masks are required. Food will not be served at group events.
When the county is at or approaching medium risk, masks are recommended. Food will be served with individual portions.
When the county is at or approaching low risk, masks are optional. We will respect one another’s decisions about masking.
Masks are required in our nursery for everyone age 3 and up. Masks are required for adults working with children 5 and under.
Masks continue to be recommended for high-risk groups and individuals who are unvaccinated.
Jubilee, youth, and children’s Sunday School continue their COVID practices with food.
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My favorite part of kindergarten is the writing assignments with phonetic spelling, our as our six-year-old calls them, “my personal narratives.” We’ve delighted in the wonderful stories from her perspective, oftentimes with opportunities to decode the spelling.
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