Dirt & Discipleship

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” 

~Matthew 28:16-20~

"Though few and small and weak your bands, strong in your Captain's strength, go to the conquest of all lands; all must be his at length."
~James Montgomery ("Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Gates of Brass")~

There are a few words that cause shivers to run down the spines of Non-Christians and Christians alike. One of those words is evangelism.  Once heard, these five syllables often evoke an array of negative feelings. This word has become, what some might call, "dirty." Because of certain actions and groups attached to it, many have chosen to simply remove it from their vocabulary. 

But, what is Christianity without evangelism? How are we to live out the Great Commission, if not by being evangelists? Jesus told us to "make disciples of all nations," how can we do this without preaching, declaring, and proclaiming the Gospel (the very definition of evangelism)?

When we think about what keeps us from evangelizing, one thing comes to mind: fear. We fear that we'll be rejected, that we'll say the wrong thing, and that we won't have all of the answers. We can reduce this fear by examining Christ's words and discerning what we've truly been commissioned to do.

William Barclay points out that, in speaking these last words (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus did three things: 1)He assured His disciples of His power, 2)He gave them a commission (to spread the Word), and 3)He promised them a presence (the Holy Spirit). 

Too often we forget the third thing and try to take the Holy Spirit's work into our own hands. We are called to be Christ's hands and feet, however, this means that we are to care for His people, share His message, and live righteously. This does not mean that we are responsible for converting people; we provide the tools, it's God who does the sculpting and changing.


Last Thursday a small group from UUMC made our way to Juarez to work with Proyecto Abrigo. We were on a mission: we were going to help build a house for a family, and more importantly, we were there to form relationships and serve as a catalyst to relationship with God. We returned Sunday evening with hearts fulfilled, spirits renewed, and understanding increased.

The nine of us showed up ready to work. We were anxious to get our hands dirty doing things like sifting sand, mixing cement and mortar, and laying bricks. We certainly had ample opportunity to do all of these things, but on the first day we were met with something most of us did not expect: waiting. Due to a sand truck's delayed arrival, we spent the first few hours of our work day, not working. 

God had a great plan for us. Instead of using this time to dwell on how useless we felt, we seized the opportunity to spark conversations, play some games, and improve our Spanish-speaking skills. 

Break time selfie with three of the sweetest kids in the world.

Pastor Randall practicing for the real thing.

Coming from our monochronic, constantly moving way of life, it would have been simple to get frustrated, but God's Spirit was with us, keeping us on mission--on His mission. Not to say that we didn't try to rush/strain ourselves sometimes, we most certainly did, but in those moments, God would speak to us in the easy-going voice of one of our maestro's, Jesus ("Chuy"), saying "take it easy." 

Jesus ("Chuy") showing us how it's done.

A few hard-working men.

Chuy gave sound advice, not just for mixing concrete, but for living the Great Commission as well.  The Kingdom is imminent, but not rushed. Having a proper understanding of our role in it all helps to be able to settle into this concept. We are witness, we are hands, we are not saviors and redeemers.   

Often our actions better serve to proclaim Christ than do our words (in Juarez, that's the only way many of us could communicate). Being an evangelist doesn't require us to convert people; we don't have to stand on street corners and hand out tracts; being an evangelist means living our lives in such a way that makes "nonbelievers question their disbelief in God" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

So, what do you think? Are you an evangelist? Do people look to you and say, "wow! who is this God that brings such joy?"

Small is the New Big

...if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. ~Isaiah 58:10-11

The Christian walk is a walk that follows in the steps of our Lord, Jesus. We follow Jesus, not just because He is our God and Savior, but because He was a man as well--a man "who in every respect has been tempted as we are" (Hebrews 4:15). This means He understands us in such a profound way: as one who has lived like us and who is our God and Creator. 

Jesus is perfect humanity. This is why we strive to be like Him.

Following the practices that Jesus followed is one way to grow closer to Him and to become more like Him. One of those practices, which often gets overlooked in contemporary church society, is fasting. This practice has been neglected mainly because many believe it to be irrelevant. But the truth is not that it no longer applies to us, rather that its heart, its core purpose, has been lost to us. 

Fasting can be tricky. When we notice it mentioned in the Bible it's usually because it's being done incorrectly. Too often, when we fast we do it for the wrong reasons. For example, some fast for the sake of ritual, but this is narrow and often makes it empty and meaningless. Others do it for the sake of deprivation with the goal of discipline, but this view is limiting as well. 

The heart of fasting is much deeper and more complex than we care to realize.

There are many reasons to fast: to seek out God's voice, to humble ourselves, or to tame our temptations. Another reason to fast, that is present throughout Scripture, is to appeal to God--not just on one's own behalf, but on the behalf of others--for social justice.

Isaiah 58 tells us about the proper way to fast. This scripture also makes it abundantly clear that God calls those who have to care for those who have not. Where we live, most of us fall into the "those who have" category. Even when strapped for cash or without work completely, few of us know what it's like to really be without.

This weekend the Youth of University United Methodist Church joined the fight to feed the hungry by participating in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine. Nine middle school and high school kids (plus a few brave adults) stayed at the church for one day and two nights, fasting, praying, learning, playing, and serving together for the sake of those less fortunate than themselves.

The youth serving the residents of Tent City during their fast.

While fasting, they set aside their feelings of hunger and focused on feeding others. They helped prepare bags of food for God's Pantry, they served a spaghetti dinner to the residents at Tent City, they played a game (called TRIBE) that helped them experience an impoverished life, and they participated in a candlelight vigil on behalf of the children around the world who die (one every ten seconds) due to hunger-related diseases. 

Helping with God's Pantry, or building a fort?

The youth worked together to survive the struggles of poverty during the game of TRIBE.

The theme of this year's 30 Hour Famine was "Make Hunger Your Fight." The message was centered around the story of David and Goliath and focused on the idea that even those who appear small and weak can take on problems that look big and fierce.

Too often we ignore those hurting around us. We hear about their serious struggles and assume that we are too small to make a difference. We forget that our God is bigger than all of the evil and injustice in the world. 

Also, too often we underestimate the passion and power of the youth in our churches. They are indeed our future, and this small group of adolescents and teenagers at UUMC have shown us that our future is in caring and capable hands. The youth have proven to have hearts that are willing to follow Christ's call. 

Our youth, like David, revealed to us this weekend that small is the new big.

So, let's take a page out of our youth's playbook and challenge each other during this Lenten season to serve with hands wide open, fast with hearts seeking justice, and feast with humble appreciation of all that our Lord has freely given. 

Wholly Living a Holy Life

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." 

~James 5:16~

"... encourage one another and build one another up..." 

~1 Thessalonians 5:11~

Accountability. This is not a word many of us like to hear. We become squeamish when it reaches our ears because we have been conditioned to believe it to mean something other than what it truly means. For many, the word evokes feelings of being judged or demeaned in some way. However, accountability is meant to be a positive accomplice to righteous living.

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).

Many Theologians, including John Wesley, held that community is essential to Christian growth and that in order to fully experience a relationship with Christ, one must be in relationship with others. As an extension of this belief, early Methodists were committed to weekly out-of-church meetings, called "Class Meetings." These meetings were a source of growth through self-examination, confession, loving support, encouragement, and mutual accountability.

University United Methodist Church is building off of the former Wesleyan practice with our new "Life Groups" ministry. Life Groups are weekly in-home gatherings meant to facilitate community, fellowship, and discussion. They offer a chance for people to share their strengths, their weaknesses, and stories of how God is moving in their lives.

This new ministry aims to be a venue for accountability--a way of working as one body toward wholly living a holy life.

Life Groups are about doing life together, or as John Wesley would say, "watching over one another in love." They are about achieving transformation rather than merely collecting information. They are a way of moving beyond learning about how to live the Christian life into actually living the Christian life. For, it is impossible to be a partially devoted Christian; being a truly  devoted Christian requires more than having a mind in Christ (Philippians 2:5), it also requires walking as Christ walked (1 John 2:6).

UUMC's first round of Life Groups will run during the six weeks of Lent, beginning the week of February 22nd and concluding the week of March 29th.  Our hopes are that all who commit to this exciting new opportunity will grow through the practice of actively exploring what it means to live as Christ has called us to live.

If you would like more information on the different group options, visit the church office or contact me at chrisann@uumclascruces.org. 

Praise the Lord and Pass the Bread

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

~John 6:10-13~

This time last week, many of us were scurrying to prepare for Thanksgiving, a day when Americans gather with family and friends to feast, give thanks, and feast some more. 

We in the Church know the spiritual wonder that can come from sharing a meal with others. Most of our gatherings involve potlucks and much of the stories of Jesus and the Apostles have a feast at their center. Wondrous things can happen when people gather at a table together: bodies are satiated, relationships are fed, and souls are nourished. 

Perhaps the most compelling illustration of this is the Eucharist, one of the our most cherished sacraments, which uses food and drink to bring form to the spiritual act of communion with our Lord.

In our society of plenty, somehow we too often find ourselves saying the words, "I don't have enough; I can't help anyone; I have nothing to spare." But, are we being honest with ourselves and each other? The truth is we have more than most, and when we trust in God there is always enough, or more accurately, there is always more than enough. We see in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 that it is possible to take little to no food and miraculously turn it into enough to feed all that are hungry (and then some).

God's Pantry began as an answer to Jesus' call to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17). The Pantry started with a few items in a small closet located in the UUMC office and, much like the fish and bread that fed the thousands, it has multiplied since its genesis.

This year has brought major growth in the ministry. First, the Pantry moved into a larger space in the Fellowship Hall, then a refrigerator was added, and now the Pantry has partnered with Roadrunner Food Bank.

This new partnership means greater resources to reach out to and aid our surrounding community; it means, starting in January, the Pantry will have more food to distribute and will now be able to offer fresh produce. It also means opportunities to pursue new endeavors, such as a "mobile pantry" that will directly serve the families of the students at University Hills Elementary School.

The key to living a life of plenty is believing that the Lord works in our lives. Jesus calls all of His people to help the poor, the hungry, and all those in need. However, we are not expected to do this on our own--He provides for us the resources. He may provide by way of miracle, or by placing others in our path that can fill in where we are lacking. 

Whatever the way may be, it's important to trust that there is always a way.

The first "mobile pantry" will be on December 12th and God's Pantry is open every Friday between 9 am and 11 am. If you are interested in donating, you can find a list of needs posted in UUMC's bulletin. If you would like any more information about this ministry, contact Amelia (amelia@uumclascruces.org) in the church office (575.522.8220).

The Fullness Thereof

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. 

~Leviticus 19:9-10~

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor... For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 

~1 Corinthians 10:23-26~

All who've ever attended a church service have almost certainly been graced with the message that we are to love the Lord our God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Many of us have heard this teaching so often that we brush it off quickly assuming to have great wisdom and don't give it much thought after that. However, when reading Scripture, two things that can be observed are: 1) that wisdom should not be assumed and 2) that humans are not as good at loving as God commands us to be.

As recorded in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 10, Jesus says what is most important is for us to love three people--God, self, and neighbor. Why did Jesus say these were the greatest commandments? Was it because He was a good guy that wanted us to be nice people? Was it because he was trying to be democratic when responding to skeptics? Or, is there a subtext, a deeper exhortation that many of us have missed? 

Jesus did not waste His words. He was intentional in all that He said and how He said it. In this discourse He began with "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and He ended with "and [love] your neighbor as yourself." This was not simply a stylistic preference; it was a formula. In order to love our neighbors well, we must love ourselves well, and in order to love ourselves well, we must love God well by giving Him our lives and immersing ourselves in His love for us. 

One way that we love ourselves is by nourishing our bodies with food and nourishing our souls with community. So, it would follow that if we are to love our neighbors as ourselves we should nourish them with the same things.

This year, University United Methodist Church's vision of building a Community Garden came to fruition. The church has long hoped for a way to make use of the land between our building and the neighborhood. We have also been dreaming of ways to take our love outside of the sanctuary and into the community. This project is the result of those hopes and dreams.

The vanguard of the Community Garden was a plot consisting of a few rows of potted vegetables. It has since expanded into another ground plot beside the pioneering garden as well as four keyhole gardens nearby (three of which were built in one day!). 

There are no rules or regulations attached to the garden; all are welcome to reap of its produce (even if they weren't part of the sewing). Those who are involved in the Garden's upkeep have found joy in seeing the growth that has come from their labor and they receive great joy in noticing that others have been blessed by the delicious peppers, squash, lettuce, and other nourishment that it has to offer. 

Love is a simple submission that produces extraordinary growth. When we love God the way He calls us to, the natural result is that we end up better loving the things that He loves: ourselves and our neighbors. 

In creating us in His image, our Father dreamed for us to enjoy what is His. This earth belongs to Him, and He calls each of us to SHARE in its fullness thereof.

GIFT (UN)REQUITED

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” 

~Luke 14:12-14~

Have you ever been a part of a committee or group that plans "outreach" for a church or organization? If you have, I'm sure you remember a big part of the conversation being what the return would be. Often, when such planning happens, the big questions are "what will WE get out of this? How will this help with OUR growth? How will this help get OUR message out? 

Do not these queries seem contrary to what Jesus spoke of when He commissioned His disciples to go out and simply love and care for His people?

In Luke 14 we read the parable that Jesus taught of  the "Great Banquet." Through this story we learn that a gift is not a gift if it is given with an expectation of return. So, what does this reveal about how we have been doing things? It doesn't necessarily mean that we have been doing them completely wrong, but (maybe) it means that we need to take the time to examine our motives; we need to be reminded that what we do should be according to the missio Dei--God's mission. 

~

If you happened to drive by University United Methodist Church between 7 am and 9 am on Saturday morning, you may have noticed a line forming around the building. This was a result of the "Free Garage Sale" that was held in honor of our Outflow series. The "sale" started at 9 am and with the swinging open of the doors came the smiles and stories of many of God's beloved people. 

Everyday last week there were members of the congregation either bringing in donations or helping to organize and set things up for Saturday's "sale." There was an excellent variety of items for our neighbors to sift through, select, and make their own; from Keurigs to Keds, from books to blankets, the fellowship hall was not lacking in treasures. There was such an abundance that at the end of the day there was plenty left over to offer to other ministries (for example, the leftover men's clothing was taken to be used in a prison ministry).

This wasn't your average garage sale (and not just because everything was free). As soon as you walked in, you could smell the delicious scents of coffee provided by Pastor Randall and pastries baked by our congregants. Also, there were plenty of volunteers present to offer assistance, smiling faces, and listening ears. 

Those listening ears were blessed by some encouraging stories. One of those stories was of a woman shopping for things to furnish her new place, a place she recently moved into after having been homeless for quite some time. The day brought other soul-hugging stories as well, and I encourage you to visit with any of those who were there to hear them. 

It's the stories, the becoming a part of your neighbors' lives, that makes this life fulfilling.

There was some debate over calling this event a "Free Garage Sale" due to the title's oxymoron-ish nature, however there didn't seem to be a better way to express what we were doing.  The word "sale" implies some kind of return, but we weren't asking for money or any kind of payment (we weren't even requiring  a commitment to attend Sunday morning worship!), so it seemed to be a nonsensical name. Yet, even though the "goods" were free, those who gave them out were not left empty-handed: They received the joy that comes with being a part of the missio Dei.

In Luke 14:14, just before telling the parable of the "Great Banquet," Jesus spoke of the repayment His people would receive for doing His work. He spoke of a repayment that will happen when He comes again and all the righteous are resurrected.  This is an amazing promise to look forward to, but heaven is the "now, but not yet," meaning that, even though the ultimate fulfillment is in the future, we can still experience much of it's glory in the here and now. 

Anyone who has had the privilege of serving others knows that there are instant rewards. Connecting with others and pursuing identity in Christ is fulfilling in and of itself.

Over 300 Served!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction...For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 

~2 Corinthians 1:3-5~

This week our church celebrated World Communion Sunday by sharing in the offering of Christ's body. Partaking in the Eucharist is such a beautiful experience, it is not only a time of communion with our Lord, but an experience in connecting with fellow Christians and a time of transformation, during which we are reminded of our collaborative roles as Christ's present body in this world.  

While Jesus walked this earth He spent a lot of time healing and comforting others. So, it follows, that as His body, we should be dedicated to sharing comfort as well. Comfort can seem like an intangible thing, something that can be difficult to offer outside of kind words and prayer. However, when God's people come together in His name, we are able to break through such limiting notions to find new ways to be present in the lives around us.

For four and a half years a group of women from our congregation have been knitting shawls of different colors and sizes to be distributed to those in need of comfort and/or healing. Once a shawl is completed, it is labeled with the message: "A gift for you from University United Methodist Church with a prayer for your peace and comfort". 

During the Sunday services on September 28th, the congregation was blessed with the opportunity to hear more about our prayer shawl ministry. Pastor Randall told us about the impact that the shawls have made on the lives around us and we all got to be a part of blessing the newly knitted shawls that will soon go out to others in need of comfort. We learned that since the ministry first began in early 2010, over 300 shawls have been given away, not only to Las Cruces residents, but to people beyond state lines as well. 

Amid the shawls ready to be given away sits a binder full of thank you notes that the church has received since the beginning of this ministry. Some are simple notes of gratitude and some are letters of testimony--all are witness to the way God works in our lives. Here are some excerpts from a few of the cards:

I want to thank you so much for the wonderful, beautiful prayer shawl. I am so comforted and blessed by it and feel the love and caring that was put into it.

Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer shawl and all the prayers that you put into it. I have used it daily when i meditate and know I am enveloped in God's light and peace. 

I feel the Holy Spirit within me & now a shawl of love around me--thank you!

I received your church's prayer shawl in today's mail--oh, did the tears flow... It is on my chair where I sit to do my devotions and it will bring me much comfort and peace knowing that it was made and sent with much love. [e-mail sent from Ohio]

It means so much to know that there are such wonderful people that take the time to care about and pray for whom they only know of through friends... 

This ministry is a great example of the simple things that can be done to spread Christ's love throughout our communities. All it takes is a heart for God's creation and dedication to caring for those he cherishes. 

All are welcome to take and give shawls as they see fit, just come by the office any time during the week to pick one up. Our knitters do well to keep our shelves stocked, so that comfort is ready to be offered whenever there is a need. 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets every 4th Tuesday at 6pm in the church parlor. If you like to knit or crochet (or would like to learn how) drop by and meet all of the wonderful ladies who act as Christ's hands to offer comfort to His beloved people. If you can't make the meetings and you are interested in being involved in this ministry, or would like to donate supplies, feel free to stop by the office for a chat or email me (chrisann@uumclascruces.org) for more information.