2020: West Grove

This week, I picked up a new pair of glasses.I had been using the latest pair for about two years with little trouble. When my eye doctor asked if I experienced any vision change, I said very little. At the end of the exam, I found myself with an updated prescription. I have worn glasses since the 2nd grade, so this did not surprise me. Little tweaks here and there seemed to be a part of the process. Imagine my surprise when I tried on the new glasses and I saw with ease more crisply as I read. I hadn’t realized how much I needed visual benefits of glasses as my eyes changed.

There are some of you who have 20/20 vision without assistance. Approximately, 35% of adults can achieve clarity without corrective measures. Adding glasses and contacts, 75% of adults can see clearly at the measurement of 20/20. The largest percentage of us are aided when we put on our glasses or put in our contacts. (1) The remainder utilize corrective measurements, but do not achieve 20/20 vision. The majority of us need assistance and support in one form or another to see fully, clearly and like myself, to know what our eyes have adjusted to. Our clarity comes from discerning God’s call, making a clear plan, and embracing together our collective role. Discipleship is not a solo sport, but a team one. We join together to hear where God is calling us.

Peter and Andrew were fishing together and James and John, their partners were not far away. When the catch of one team was too large, the other was there to assist, and visa versa. Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John to leave their fishing boats and follow him after one of the most successful catches! Earlier this month, this story was a part of our chapel time with the preschool. Each week, Melanie Hartley, our Director of Children and Youth or myself offer chapel time with our preschoolers. We tell a story, sing a song, and offer a prayer. The call of the disciples captured the imagination of the children as we almost heard the waves against the boat (splish, splash splish splash), and counted the fish caught (from zero to OH MY!). One of our little friends observed that when Jesus called the disciples, it was immediate. He raised his hand and patiently asked, Did Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave their boat floating at sea when they followed Jesus? Did anyone go get that boat yet? My preschool friend understood that when you follow Jesus, you are all in – focused on Jesus. To focus on Jesus is to have vision that seeks Jesus in every way. This was the inspiration and heart of our look into where God is leading us into the future.

In June of 2019, we developed our strategic planning team to discern and articulate where God is calling us into the future. Throughout the summer and into the fall, the team met identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the development of the congregation. Their work continues to put finishing touches on a strategic plan before finalization. When the Holy Spirit came upon the people at Pentecost, they were reminded of the words of the prophet, Joel: “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” The early Jesus movement knew that visions of who God is and what God is doing, and these visions informed their knowing that God was near. Our strategic plan, our vision for the future, comes with a similar reliance on God. I will share three of the initiatives with you.

Jesus called Peter, James, Andrew, and John to fish for people. They continued the heart of their occupation- fishing- while following Jesus. Jesus calls us to do the same. We, too fish, even if we have never baited a hook. We share the good news of Jesus where the water is deep, and the fish are biting. The average adult spends 3 hours on their mobile phone.(2) That’s three times as much as most of spend eating on the average day.(3) The average teenager spends up to seven hours on their phones.(4) I am grateful for the social media teaching and conversation that our youth group continues to be engaged in. Looking forward, our vision increases our engagement with those inside the church and not yet inside the church with social media, our website, and live streaming (initiative #1). To spread the good news, God invites us to share in all the forums we can to all the people we can. We are currently active on Facebook with daily prayer meditations, events, updates, pictures, and articles. We project adding Instagram and other mediums in the next year.

Our website is our digital front door. When people visit for the first time, almost without exception, they have already visited us on our website. Enhancing this web image is akin to a fresh coat of paint and updating the bathroom. We do it regularly and intentionally. Families determine whether or not to walk in the door and meet our church family in person, based on the website. We want to share the God’s love and bless our digital neighbors knocking at our door.

To be present in worship, when you are not able to be present in the building is the gift of live streaming. This beloved connection allows not only those who are traveling or home sick to tune in, but also homebound and those searching for a church home to try out livestream worship first. Opening up more ways to share God’s word is a gift to many. As we renew this initiative, we look for additional people to support this ministry in the soundboard. An additional person each service is needed to operate a camera for livestreaming. Our technology team with a few others is the support behind sharing God’s word through these mediums. Many of you have the know-how and the desire to share with others. Maybe from behind a computer screen or other device. Our technology team would love to expand those responding to call and calling others through technology.

Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to step out of the boat after showing them their success in fishing. The strategic planning team is recommending going forward with a financial support campaign in the next two years (initiative #2). We give thanks to God for the strong financial position in which our congregation ended 2019. Your generosity coupled with watchful spending of our staff and ministry leaders is to credit. Our trustees have done a full analysis of our facilities – building and ground. Looking forward as to what is needed for capital replenishment from the roof to the carpeting, HVAC to refrigerators, they have detailed our needs in the coming years. This financial support campaign will allow West Grove to both generate needed bridge income for facilities, capital replenishment while growing membership and thus establishing a strong economic future for WGUMC and our missions programs.

The third initiative I want to share this morning is to grow our youth participation from 25 in 2019 to 32 in 2020 by activities that draw youth from the community, not just youth from the church; offer opportunities for education for parents and families on different relevant topics; and engage 5th and 6th graders in activities and service before they reach youth group age. For the number’s folks, our youth engagement has grown from 20 youth in 2018 to 25 youth in 2019, so we prayerfully seek to share God’s love and walk with our youth generation for a goal of 32 youth learning about Jesus.

Many begin with trying out dodgeball or laser tag or a low-key event. One friend who recently transitioned to also attending youth, had asked her friend initially if there was a lot of God-talk. She was hesitant about what was unfamiliar. She has since decided to start attending youth group; she is interested in learning about God.

We are called to follow Jesus and show others to do likewise. Raising children and teenagers is hard work. That may be the most understated statement. To equip our parents, in August, prior to the school year, we will be offering a forum about anxiety in children and teens. To share the love of Jesus is to care for our children and youth as well as the parents who are raising them. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) who tracks these health statistics, released the data that in 2019, 1 in 6 children has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder that has been diagnosed. Over 10% of teens have been diagnosed with anxiety. We pray that offering additional faith-based resources to our families and community can strengthen their networks of support.

At the start of the 2020-2021 school year, we will offer for our rising 5th and 6th graders a special group just for them. Many of you have told me how young Methodist fellowship or a children’s group connected you to a deeper relationship with Christ. Consider how you might be called to be a part of offering that for our children as they begin those tween years.
Earlier in my ministry, I served a small-town congregation and two close friends told me this story. Two neighbors, Nancy and Heidi, had lived beside each other for many years and were very close. Nancy was always talking about her church, and invited Heidi many times. Heidi always had reasons not to come. Nancy persisted. Years later, Heidi decided to come to a church potluck dinner, just to quiet Nancy. Heidi found that she liked the people. And couple months later, she came to worship one Sunday just to quiet Nancy. Little by little, she found herself coming to the church. By the time, I served there, she was an active member. She told me, Pastor, it is your job to preach and our job to invite. She heard the call as a disciple of Christ and embraced the vision God had given. As we go forward into 2020, may we hear Jesus calling us to Follow and embrace the clarity and vision God grants.

This is the gospel. The Good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(1) https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-2020-vision
(2) https://www.emarketer.com/content/us-time-spent-with-mobile-2019
(3) https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2015/07/guess-how-much-time-you-spend-eating-on-an-average-day
(4) https://abcnews.go.com/US/teens-spend-hours-screens-entertainment-day-report/story?id=66607555

New Testament Lesson: Acts 2: 1-4, 14-18, 21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 4:18-23
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, January 26 ~ Saturday, February 1, 2020

Sunday: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.” Acts 2:1. Pray for all those who gather in faith and with a hand full of shaky doubts. As we gather, may the Holy Spirit come amid us granting us peace in afflictions and discomfort in our complacency.
Monday: “As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.” Matthew 4: 18. The call of Jesus shows us what God can do. Our response shows the world what God can do through us. We need both: the wonders of God and our commitment.
Tuesday: “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
  Matthew 4: 19. Consider that God calls us to work through your gifts. If you are a cook, follow me, and I will make you cook for people. If you are builder, follow me, and I will make you build for people.
Wednesday: “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4: 20. Pray for those who devote their lives to following Jesus. May their love for Jesus overflow into love for others.
Thursday: “As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.” Matthew 4: 21. Pray for your family to come and follow Jesus. Jesus will meet them where they are, just like he meets all of us where we are.
Friday: “Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.” Matthew 4: 22. Where has Jesus called you to come and follow? Spending time in prayer, we can hear the voice and the tug of Jesus to call us.
Saturday: “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Matthew 4: 23. Pray for those who need the healing hand of the Great Physician. Lift your petitions of prayer for those in need of healing and cure.