TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW September 21, 2007
Important Articles in the September 21, 2007 issue of THE REVIEW
1. Faith-Based Disaster Response Training – October 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Bellevue United Methodist Church. Added information about UNCOR training leader Christy Smith.
2. The Healing Power of Joy to be found in The Joy Prescription Workshop, Glendale United Methodist Church, September 29, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Leader Ruth Williams shares information about the event.
3. United Methodist Area Foundation Reports from the Past Quarter. Report by Vin Walkup, President and CEO of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation.
4. Prelude to the Convocation on Church Renewal and “Letter to a Lay Person” – examines the focus of the Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity. Indicates why you should be part of the November 10th event in Dickson, Tennessee.
5. Fall Lay Speaking Ministries School Completed in Cookeville District with photos of the three graduating classes.
6. Pleasant View United Methodist Church Becomes Distribution Site for Angel Food Ministries
7. UMVIM Zimbabwe 2006. Jan Schilling, Smyrna First United Methodist Church, shares her experiences from a 2006 United Methodist Women’s trip to Zimbabwe, Africa.
8. The God of Superabundance. Medical Doctor and United Methodist probationary Deacon, Dr. Ted Hill, reflects on a God who provides for us in abundance. Hill is appointed to the Salvus clinic for people in Sumner County who work but have no insurance.
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UMCOR Disaster Consultant Christy Smith will facilitate the training
Jan Schilling telling the Zimbabwe ladies what life was like growing up in the segregated South and challenges she faced as a young girl in the 50s and 60s and 70s.
On Saturday, we toured some missions that are close the Harare. I was amazed at the size and multitude of services they offer. It made me feel so proud (I know we’re not supposed to be) to be a United Methodist when I saw the cross and flame everywhere we went! We visited the Nyadire School, complete with nursing school for 1000 students (all female), a high school with 500 students and a primary school with 850 students. There is also a small orphanage for 24 boys and girls. The whole place is incredibly clean.
We also visited another mission school with 1,516 primary students with 170 as boarders. This school was sponsored by the UMW. Next we visited the Tambanevana Centre. It is a small school for disadvantaged or orphans. They had computers donated by the United Kingdom.
They have 100 students per day and maintain their own garden and playground. There is a building under way to house 50 toddlers, 1 – 3 years old.
On Sunday, we went to church with our host families. It was very strange to walk into a service knowing it was going to be in Shona, but the opening hymn was ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ (in Shona) and the service was the traditional United Methodist service so it was very easy to follow the Apostle’s Creed, Lord’s Prayer and Doxology in Shona. The anthem was a traditional African piece accompanied only by a small drum. There were no other musical instruments and the sound was wonderful!
On Monday, we loaded into a bus and headed to the conference site in Mutare, La Rochelle. It was an old English country estate that has been converted into a ‘resort’. It was surrounded by a famous rose garden which we didn’t get to enjoy due to rain every day! On the way, we stopped at Clare Mission, a newly acquired school for over 400 children, most of whom had no shoes or uniforms. They are the children of local migrant and farm workers and walk a tremendous distance to school every day. We also picked up several more Zim ladies on the way. The Bishop gave an opening talk after dinner (we were not expecting him and it was hard for the ZIM ladies to relax with a man in the group) and then we packed boxes for missions and headed to bed.
Schilling leads a hand weaving workshop during the conference.
Tuesday we began the conference in earnest with presentations by the youth and some craft sharing. We also sang a lot in both Shona and English. Each day during the week, there were talks by the American and the Zims about issues we face. Like the bishop said, e-mail and snail mail are nice but we need to see each other face to face. We visited many more missions, the site of the first United Methodist church in Zimbabwe and Africa University. Imagine our surprise to find a See Rock City birdhouse there! Apparently, a church in the Chattanooga area donated a lot of money to the College of Agriculture. We were also honored to have afternoon tea with the Chancellor and some of his staff.
On Friday, we loaded up the bus and headed back to Harare. We stopped at the District office and had a service with Holy Communion. Their grape juice is a weak cherry tasting Kool Aid. It was sad to leave our sisters. We had become quite close in such a short time. Of course, we sang our hearts out along the way! We stopped again at Clare Mission to leave suitcases of supplies for the children.
Saturday we were taken to another United Methodist Church in Harare for a conference. The pews were of a dark mahogany wood, paneled like our kitchen cabinets. They were very beautiful but not made to sit in for four hours! We were told that there are 1000 people in worship there on Sundays. We had heard some of the talks before during the week but it was important information for our Zim sisters, some of it about AIDS. After a lunch and tour of their wares for sale, we headed to the American Women’s Club meeting at an estate in Harare. There was MORE FOOD, mostly American, and chatter. I met a lady who was a supplier for Nissan in Smyrna where I had retired from. I also met a lady whose children were the first blacks at Peabody Demonstration School in Nashville. She was originally from Mississippi.
Sunday saw us headed to Victoria Falls for a very brief debrief session. After fretting about extreme weight restrictions on our luggage, we weren’t even checked. I guess the sight of 12 United Methodist Women in a group was enough to scare anyone! In only 24 hours we would be headed back to the states and separate. It was a very good trip and I look forward to more in the future.
*Schilling is a member of First United Methodist Church, Smyrna, an active part of the local United Methodist Women’s unit, and a participant in Volunteers in Mission and Mt. TOP
The God of Superabundance
By Dr. Ted Hill*
99 Bottles of beer on the wall
99 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around
98 bottles of beer on the wall.
98 bottles of beer on the wall
98 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around
97 bottles of beer on the wall.
97 bottles of beer on the wall…….etc.
Don’t ask me why I remember this little jingle I sang as a kid. I just did. My sister and I used to sing it growing up when we would go on vacation with my parents. I guess we learned it in order to pass the time and deal with the boredom of travel. Remember, then there was radio, of course, (I’m not that old you know!) but between cities one would get out of range and all you could hear was static anyway. No, there was no in-car video. And yes, you could only count so many cows in the fields as you motored down the road on your side of the car and so many out of state license plates.
You won’t believe this, but I think my Dad is responsible for teaching us this. My Dad- a preacher; a tee-totaling “holy-roller” as we were sometimes not so affectionately called.
Your Dad, a minister taught you a song about beer? I’m telling you, those trips could be long and boring for a kid who kept asking, “Are we there yet?” “Can’t we stop at a motel with a pool NOW and go swimming?” “When do we eat?” “I have to go to the bathroom!” He had to keep his sanity too, you know. So why not a song about beer on the wall-at least is was some diversion for the “Are we there yet?” questions.
Actually this came to mind in a series of seemingly unrelated events.
I am preparing to share in presiding duties for my oldest daughter’s wedding. I decided to look at the story of Jesus at the wedding at Cana, his first act to show who he was, according to the Gospel writer of John. I thought, this would be a great story to look at to see what Jesus thinks about marriage. Well, the gospel always goes beyond our concepts of what we are looking for and this was no exception. Yes, Jesus did go to a wedding. Yes, he was prevailed upon, by his mother no less, to intervene when the wine ran out-which would have been a disgrace to those who were responsible for hospitality. But the great part of the story for my purpose in this is that not only did he provide wine, and I mean FINE wine, he provided 120-180 gallons of wine! Now when you talk of that much wine, if you were there, the difference between 120 and 180 would not have been noticed. (Maybe that’s why the writer couldn’t remember!) The point is that there was a superabundance! That is the way God is; even at weddings. Providing more than enough for everybody. Even wine. After all, it is a celebration.
Yesterday, a patient came in for a routine follow up visit. Before he left, he produced a note from his friend, also a patient of Salvus*, requesting Lipitor. We had started the note writer on some samples and his application for a long term supply from the drug company had not yet been processed. Well, I looked in the drug closet and found a bottle but it may have been the last and I told the bearer of the note, this may be all we have for a while and to be sure the writer completes and submits his application. Within the hour, we had a drug rep visit us, which is unusual because I write fewer scripts of new drugs that reps would like us to, so they don’t visit us much. Well, guess what she brought us samples of? Yep; Lipitor! And I mean a lot! 72 months worth! 2160 pills!
Well, you see the connection. God still provides in abundance. It is like the song--the song goes on when you get to the last bottle of beer on the wall, by the way. You start over with-
99 bottles of beer on the wall.
99 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around,
98 bottles of beer on the wall…
Let’s have a party and celebrate! God is here and providing the drink!
*Dr. Ted Hill is a medical doctor and a probationary deacon in the Tennessee Conference. He is appointed to the Salvus clinic for people in Sumner County who work but have no insurance and to First United Methodist Church in Gallatin. He reports that a second clinic is scheduled to be opened in Hendersonville during the next 8-12 months.
1. Faith-Based Disaster Response Training – October 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Bellevue United Methodist Church. Added information about UNCOR training leader Christy Smith.
2. The Healing Power of Joy to be found in The Joy Prescription Workshop, Glendale United Methodist Church, September 29, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Leader Ruth Williams shares information about the event.
3. United Methodist Area Foundation Reports from the Past Quarter. Report by Vin Walkup, President and CEO of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation.
4. Prelude to the Convocation on Church Renewal and “Letter to a Lay Person” – examines the focus of the Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity. Indicates why you should be part of the November 10th event in Dickson, Tennessee.
5. Fall Lay Speaking Ministries School Completed in Cookeville District with photos of the three graduating classes.
6. Pleasant View United Methodist Church Becomes Distribution Site for Angel Food Ministries
7. UMVIM Zimbabwe 2006. Jan Schilling, Smyrna First United Methodist Church, shares her experiences from a 2006 United Methodist Women’s trip to Zimbabwe, Africa.
8. The God of Superabundance. Medical Doctor and United Methodist probationary Deacon, Dr. Ted Hill, reflects on a God who provides for us in abundance. Hill is appointed to the Salvus clinic for people in Sumner County who work but have no insurance.
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Bring a team from your church, and be prepared to respond to local and regional disasters
Faith-Based Disaster Response Training – October 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Faith-Based Disaster Response Training – October 13, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
UMCOR Disaster Consultant Christy Smith will facilitate the trainingOn Sat., Oct. 13, 9 a.m. – 12 Noon, Bellevue UMC in Nashville will be hosting an UMCOR disaster training, “Community Arise.” This event will offer crucial training for congregations seeking to be better prepared to serve their communities in the event of a disaster. Christy Smith, UMCOR Disaster Consultant, will facilitate the training.
Recent reports of potential flooding from the Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky, should be a potent reminder for us to prepare our churches, communities, and homes for disaster. While we live in regular, and perhaps increasing, threat of tornadoes and flash flooding, the Wolf Creek Dam joins the New Madrid fault (earthquake) and TVA Nuclear Plants as potential large scale disasters that could affect the Tennessee Conference.
Wolf Creek Dam has been deemed by the Army Corps of Engineers as very likely to fail within 5 years as the earthen part of the dam is being weakened by erosion deep underground. Repairs are underway, but could take as long as 5 years to complete. If the dam breached, there would potentially be minor to major flooding in 13 northern counties of the Tennessee Conference, including: Cheatham, Clay, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Houston, Jackson, Montgomery, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson.
The October 13th training event, apply entitled “Community Arise,” will stress two major elements in disaster preparedness: first, the faith based response to disaster. Secondly, the critical need for disaster preparedness in each Tennessee community. Participants will:
·Learn why and how the faith-based response is a unique response to disasters
·Learn who is being served by faith-based response, and how they are being served
·Study the special faith-based role in long-term recovery
·Learn the benefits of disaster preparedness and mitigation in each community
·Explore ways for individuals, families, and churches to respond in case of a disaster
In the latter, there will be discussion on each church's preparation, its coordination with the faith community and its coordination with the emergency response community in the event of a disaster. Hopefully, there will be time for groups to begin thinking specifically about what their church's disaster response plan might look like. The Conference Disaster Response Committee will be evaluating the “Community Arise” program for future training in Districts and Local Churches throughout the Conference.
Christy Tate Smith is a native Kentuckian, transplanted to Tennessee by circumstance and education. She considers herself a full-fledged citizen of her adopted state.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, she worked briefly in the publishing industry before marrying. She lived three years in Japan where she taught English to Japanese high school students, as well as math and English to American Army personnel who wished to pass the GED and receive high school equivalency certification. While living there, she also worked as education advisor to American soldiers wounded in Vietnam who had been transferred to hospitals in Japan.
From1985 until 2001, she was editor of the Brownsville States-Graphic newspaper.
After the destructive May 2003 tornadoes in West Tennessee, she was executive director of Disaster Recovery Services of the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Disaster Recovery Services coordinated the volunteer response for tornado survivors and partnered with storm survivors in West Tennessee who had long-term unmet needs. “This introduction to direct ministry with disaster survivors was a wonderful personal blessing,” she says. “Seeing lives and homes made whole by God’s people bringing God’s love to courageous people in great need was an incredible, joyful, spirit-filled adventure.”
Since 2004, Smith has worked as a disaster consultant for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, traveling to Methodist conferences to provide disaster preparation and post-disaster consultation.
“UMCOR is the church on feet,” she says. “The greatest blessings come from everyday moments when we get to be the visible presence of God’s love to someone in need.”
To register yourself or your team contact Bellevue UMC, (615) 646-4146 and do so as soon as possible.
The Healing Power of Joy to be found in The Joy Prescription Workshop, Glendale United Methodist Church, September 29, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ruth R. Williams has written: "Joy is within each one of us, within our deepest, most authentic Self. If we listen, it calls to us. The JOY Rx is the prescription needed to open hearts and minds to this call, allowing us to begin our journey of rediscovering joy."
Ruth R. Williams
Ruth R. Williams, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), is leading a workshop on Saturday, September 29 from 9am-3pm at Glendale United Methodist, 900 Glendale Lane in Nashville, on the "The Joy Prescription." Williams, an experienced psychotherapist, brings to the community her alternative prescription at a time when medicinal prescriptions are at an all-time high, with antidepressants heading the list.
Williams, self-described as a "natural" joy-maker and joy-keeper, started "soaking up the good stuff" at a very early age. She believes this has been the secret to her ability to keep smiling in spite of life's challenges. She takes her own complex but amusing life history, extensive professional experience, and intriguing spiritual journey and weaves them all into a very delightful, joy-filled day of exploration. Participants will learn how to increase their JQ (joy quotient), which Williams affirms will help strengthen their resilience in dealing with the overwhelming stress that inevitably shows up on a daily basis.
Williams (a Scarritt-trained United Methodist) says, "We all have the capacity within us to experience joy on a daily basis. Sometimes we forget we have the tools or haven't used them in a while. Treat yourself to a day apart from the stress, open to the possibility that life really can be more joy-filled!"
Williams, also a singer/songwriter, offers a bonus of both her CD's included in the price of the all-day workshop. "New People for a New World" is filled with original music plus an inspirational story. "Meditation of Joy" is a guided relaxation and meditation CD, a true gift to stressed-out folks!
Prior workshop participants have said, “Better than every stress workshop I’ve been to over the years;” “Refreshing for the mind and soul;” “Thought-provoking and timely.”
Call 615-332-2991 to make a phone reservation for the workshop. The $55 fee (which includes lunch and the two CD's) can also be sent to: Ruth R. Williams, P.O. Box 2723, Hendersonville, TN 37077-2723. You can reach Williams for scheduling other workshops or sermons-in-song at the above address and phone number or through her website, http://www.ruthwilliams.com/ or http://www.thejoyrx.com/. Email her at ruth@ruthwilliams.com.
United Methodist Foundation for the Area Reports from the Past Quarter
by Vin Walkup*
The Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation Board of Directors met at First United Methodist Church in Jackson on August 21, 2007. With the recent volatility in the market board members were cautiously anticipating our year-to-date reports. As is often the case, we heard some good news and some bad news.
Dr. Vin Walkup
First, the good news: the second quarter of the year showed a 5% growth in funds invested with the Foundation, with a year-to-date growth of 7.18% through June 30. Now, the “bad news”: In July and August we have experienced a lot of volatility in investments. Through August 17th our investments had declined by 3.5%. However, we still have a growth of slightly more than 3.5% for the year through that date. We are currently managing and investing for churches across our two conference over $22 million. Thanks to all of you who have put your trust in the Foundation and seek to fulfill the ministry of extending and strengthening ministries across the Area and for years to come.
The United Methodist Development Fund of TN/KY, Inc., continues to have a good year for participants and for churches and ministries which need loans. The Board has voted to maintain the 4.8% rate paid on participant accounts. Members also approved keeping the loan rates at 7% with a two-year balloon/renewal and 6.5% for an interest only loan with a one-year balloon/renewal. All of these rates are very good and competitive. Remember that the purpose of the Development Fund is to give United Methodists a means of helping other United Methodists. Currently there are thirty-seven active loans and participants have placed over $8 million in the fund for loans to churches and ministries in the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.
You may check for more information on the Foundation’s website: http://www.nashaumf.org/, or you may contact Dr. Vin Walkup, Paulette Dowdy (615- 259-2008), or Tiffany Raines (615-259-2066) or by email at vwalkup@nashaumf.org.
*The Rev. Vin Walkup is President and CEO of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation
Prelude to the Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity
The Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity, led by Dr. James Scott and Molly Scott will be held Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. There is no registration fee for the event. You effectively register when you order a box lunch. The lunch will be ordered for you when you send a check for $8.00 payable to the Tennessee Annual Conference to Mrs. Vicki Sharber, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 1, Nashville, TN 37211. Luncheon orders for Tennessee Conference laity will be closed when 175 reservations have been made, or by Tuesday, October 30, 2007, whichever occurs first. The caterer will be provided a list of those who have paid reservations; no tickets will be mailed. Restoring Methodism is strongly recommended reading prior to the Convocation on Church Renewal.
Article three in a series of three articles
Letter to a Layperson
By Dr. James B. Scott and Dr. Molly Davis Scott
My dear friend and colleague in Christ Jesus,
I am clergy. Having been an ordained elder for 46 years, I am now completely immersed in that role. But actually I am just getting started, because my goal is to serve Christ in active ministry another 25 years. The next 25 years could very well be my most fruitful. All this is to say I am not sure I have a good grasp after all these years of what it means to be, feel, and think like you, a layperson, perhaps especially if you are young.
However, I can share my heart with you and tell you what I hope and dream and want for you in the Christian life. That is the purpose of this letter. I can only share that which is in my heart and that to which I have given my life. In truth, what I want for you is very much what I desire and seek for myself. Here is the substance of that hope.
The Rev. John Wesley was driven by one primary thought throughout his life: to help people get to heaven. In that vein, I want you to find and grasp the heaven that lives in the Kingdom of God. It is a blessing, a joy that will continue in the next life. My “job” is to help you find new life by being united with God, being formed in the image of Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit, and serving Christ in the world.
I want you to experience the presence of Christ so profoundly that you will be compelled to share your experience with others and hunger for them to know Christ. I can help you with this.
The next thing I wish for you is that you would learn the biblical and theological essentials of the Christian faith as reflected in our Wesleyan heritage.
What we believe is important; there are essential beliefs of the Christian faith that are non-negotiables. I can help you with this.
Understanding what I have just said was why Mr. Wesley was so firm on the means of grace. The instituted means of grace, so named because they were instituted by Jesus, are the Church, Prayer, Scripture, the Sacraments, and Fasting. For Wesley and the early Methodists, the prudential means of grace, so named because they were practical ways by which we were connected to each other and growing in grace and knowledge, were the Society, the Class Meeting, the Band, the Love Feast, and the Covenant Service. Holy Conferencing could take place in any one of the prudential means of grace and at the Annual Conference. The instituted means of grace kept us connected to the Trinity; the prudential means of grace kept us connected to each other and to our ministry in the world.
For two hundred years, laity and clergy clearly understood that the heart of Methodism was the Class Meeting, the most important of the prudential means of grace. Unfortunately, that went away in the 1930s, along with many other things. One of the benefits of the Class Meeting was that lifetime relationships were formed. No matter what kind of family you had or did not have, the Class Meeting became friends and family. I can help you with this.
In our Methodist history, there was a focus on the gift of justification that comes by faith and the gift of sanctification that comes by faith. I want to talk with you about what these two things mean, not only for our spiritual life in Christ but for our practical spiritual life in the world. I can help you with this.
If you are married or have children, I want your family to experience and live the love of Christ. Mr. Wesley was especially concerned about children, and I am too. I am very worried about our children and youth. You and I need to work hard in today’s culture to ensure that our children and grandchildren are raised in the faith and experience Christ. I can help you with this.
Serving Christ in the world is almost a by-product of faith itself. It is in serving that we discover our true self. Part of my job is to help you find that place and develop the expertise and skills to succeed. I want you to be in full ministry. I can really help you with this.
I love the Church of Jesus Christ. I love Methodism. Methodism is one of the greatest movements of God since the first century. I want you to love the Church as you love Christ. It is His Body. I want you to love the Church enough to challenge me—or anyone else—when you see that we have gone astray. Love and obedience to Christ supersedes your commitment to me. The Church in America and The United Methodist Church are in precarious times. But precarious times also present an opportunity for God to perform great acts in history. This I believe God will do. I can help you with this.
Finally, I want us to dedicate ourselves to working together and serving each other—but above all, to serving Christ. Only by working together with equality between laity and clergy, under the teaching and leadership of the Holy Spirit will we accomplish the work given to each of us.
What is it that you want? Write me a letter expressing what is in your heart. What are the hopes and dreams you have for yourself, your family, the Church? What do you want from me? I can help you with this.
Your colleague in Christ,
A Clergyperson
Note: Responses may be sent to A Clergyperson, 600 Mundell Road, Eureka Springs, AR 72631.
Fall Lay Speaking Ministries School Completed in Cookeville District
The Cookeville District completed its fall Lay Speaking School at Centertown UMC in McMinnville Tennessee on August 24 & 25.
Graduates in the Basic Course
The Basic Course was taught by District Superintendent Dr. Harold Martin and Certified Lay Speakers Tenna King and Holly Neal. Graduates of this class from the Cookeville District were Carolyn Borum, Karla Brock, Susan Burrows, Mary Dishman, Junior Foster, B.J. Meeks, Sally Turner, and Andy Winfree; from the Murfreesboro District were Darlene Houk, Christie Schafer, Monica Smith and Virginia Yeargins.
The Faith Sharing Class taught by Rev. Mark Carrigan
Two Advanced Courses were offered – Faith Sharing taught by Rev. Mark Carrigan. Those that completed this class as Certified Lay Speakers from the Cookeville District were Anita Arnold, Larry Elliott, Michael Lorance, Curtis Strode, JeLaine Taylor, Betty Turner, Tom Watkins, and Willy Young;. from the Cumberland District Rebecca Sue Ladd completed the class. Auditing Faith Sharing was David Grissom from the Cookeville District.
Graduates in the Advanced Course Don’t Shoot the Horse 'Til You Know How to Drive the Tractor
The other Advanced Course was Don’t Shoot the Horse 'Til You Know How to Drive the Tractor – Moving from Annual Fundraising to a Life of Giving. Teachers for this class were Dr. Harold Martin and Vivian Martin. Completing this class from the Cookeville District were Doris Abston, Robin Carrigan, Lenny Elligan, Josh and Joanna Newberry, Nancy Priest, McKenzie (Ken) Roberts and from the Columbia District, Jerry Patton.
Highlights from the fall school were the marvelous hospitality provided by the Centertown UMC minister Rev. Maurice Moore and the congregation. They provided meals on Friday evening, lunch on Saturday, plus wonderful snacks and the men of the church arose early cooking breakfast for participants on Saturday morning. It was a blessing having four districts learning together during the Lay Speaking School.
Several family connections were evident among the participants – mother and daughter Darlene Houk and Christie Schafer, sisters Betty Turner and Susan Burrows, husband and wife Josh and Joanna Newberry.
The closing worship was lead by Centertown UMC Song Leader Barry Underwood and pianist Wayne Page. Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries, Gloria Watts, encouraged the Lay Speakers in their ministries. Also present were Cookeville Lay Leader Don Kenne and many of the student’s pastors, families and friends. The Local Church Lay Speakers were anointed with oil and received certificates as did the Certified Lay Speakers. The service concluded with Holy Communion served by teachers for the school District Superintendent Harold Martin, Vivian Martin, Tenna King and Rev. Mark Carrigan.
The Cookeville District would like to invite potential Local Church and Certified Lay Speakers to join us for our Spring Class, April 4 & 5, 2008 at Crossville First UMC. The cost for each class is $40 which includes text book, lunch and snacks during the weekend. Classes being offered are: Basic Course and Advanced Courses – Faithful Leadership - Learning to Lead with Power lead by Brother John Halliburton; From Your Heart to Theirs – Delivering the Effective Sermon taught by Pastor James Johnson and Lay Speakers Discover Spiritual Gifts – teachers Pastor Fay Tucker and Certified Lay Speaker Jon Goodwin.
For more information on Lay Speaking Ministries in the Cookeville District please contact Director Holly Neal by calling 1-866-244-5155 or email hneal56@yahoo.com
Pleasant View United Methodist Church Becomes Distribution Site for Angel Food Ministries
By Teresa Smith*, photos by Kelley Meadows*
Angel Food Ministry now has an order and distribution site in Pleasant View. Saturday was the first distribution day for Angel Food Ministries at Pleasant View United Methodist Church. Angel Food Ministry defines itself as grocery relief for all families.
Pleasant View UMC has volunteers of all ages as you can see with Patrick Alary. He is known to hand out smiles along with the potatoes.
The program is an outreach to the community to provide nutritious food at a more than reasonable price to anyone that would like to participate. Participants need only to place an order two weeks in advance and arrive at the distribution date to receive their food. There are no applications or qualifications required.
A basic unit is priced at $28.00, will feed a family of 4 for a week and is valued at approximately $60.00. There are also 3-4 specials per month that are reasonably priced packages of meat. Menus are available on purchase days, on the website, http://www.pvumc.info/ and on food distribution days. Orders and distribution of food is accomplished on a monthly basis.
Photo #10, caption: Members of Pleasant View UMC's youth group (here Zack Steele) lend a helping hand to those unable to handle the boxes for food for themselves.
To illustrate how the system works using the schedule for September, 2007: Orders for September were taken at Pleasant View United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening, September 11 from 5:30-7:30 and on Saturday, September 15 from 12:00-2:00. The distribution day for the orders is Saturday, September 29 from 12:00-2:00. Pleasant View United Methodist Church is located on Church Street and shares parking lot facilities with Pleasant View Elementary.
*Teresa Smith is chair of the missions committee of Pleasant View UMC and Kelley Meadows is a member of Pleasant View UMC
UMVIM Zimbabwe 2006
By Jan Schilling*
In April 2006, I was privileged to be on the initial UMW Ubuntu Explorer trip to Zimbabwe, Africa. This was a women sharing with women trip, not your typical mission. There was no construction, no medical per se, no cottage industries. What we did, however, was share with each other and found that our problems were the same, no matter where we lived.
We arrived in Harare and went to visit the district headquarters of the United Methodist Church. We met some other missionaries and the Bishop and his wife. From there, we went to our local host families for the evening. These were definitely the upper class Zims, since their homes were nicer than most of ours!
Recent reports of potential flooding from the Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky, should be a potent reminder for us to prepare our churches, communities, and homes for disaster. While we live in regular, and perhaps increasing, threat of tornadoes and flash flooding, the Wolf Creek Dam joins the New Madrid fault (earthquake) and TVA Nuclear Plants as potential large scale disasters that could affect the Tennessee Conference.
Wolf Creek Dam has been deemed by the Army Corps of Engineers as very likely to fail within 5 years as the earthen part of the dam is being weakened by erosion deep underground. Repairs are underway, but could take as long as 5 years to complete. If the dam breached, there would potentially be minor to major flooding in 13 northern counties of the Tennessee Conference, including: Cheatham, Clay, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Houston, Jackson, Montgomery, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson.
The October 13th training event, apply entitled “Community Arise,” will stress two major elements in disaster preparedness: first, the faith based response to disaster. Secondly, the critical need for disaster preparedness in each Tennessee community. Participants will:
·Learn why and how the faith-based response is a unique response to disasters
·Learn who is being served by faith-based response, and how they are being served
·Study the special faith-based role in long-term recovery
·Learn the benefits of disaster preparedness and mitigation in each community
·Explore ways for individuals, families, and churches to respond in case of a disaster
In the latter, there will be discussion on each church's preparation, its coordination with the faith community and its coordination with the emergency response community in the event of a disaster. Hopefully, there will be time for groups to begin thinking specifically about what their church's disaster response plan might look like. The Conference Disaster Response Committee will be evaluating the “Community Arise” program for future training in Districts and Local Churches throughout the Conference.
Christy Tate Smith is a native Kentuckian, transplanted to Tennessee by circumstance and education. She considers herself a full-fledged citizen of her adopted state.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, she worked briefly in the publishing industry before marrying. She lived three years in Japan where she taught English to Japanese high school students, as well as math and English to American Army personnel who wished to pass the GED and receive high school equivalency certification. While living there, she also worked as education advisor to American soldiers wounded in Vietnam who had been transferred to hospitals in Japan.
From1985 until 2001, she was editor of the Brownsville States-Graphic newspaper.
After the destructive May 2003 tornadoes in West Tennessee, she was executive director of Disaster Recovery Services of the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Disaster Recovery Services coordinated the volunteer response for tornado survivors and partnered with storm survivors in West Tennessee who had long-term unmet needs. “This introduction to direct ministry with disaster survivors was a wonderful personal blessing,” she says. “Seeing lives and homes made whole by God’s people bringing God’s love to courageous people in great need was an incredible, joyful, spirit-filled adventure.”
Since 2004, Smith has worked as a disaster consultant for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, traveling to Methodist conferences to provide disaster preparation and post-disaster consultation.
“UMCOR is the church on feet,” she says. “The greatest blessings come from everyday moments when we get to be the visible presence of God’s love to someone in need.”
To register yourself or your team contact Bellevue UMC, (615) 646-4146 and do so as soon as possible.
The Healing Power of Joy to be found in The Joy Prescription Workshop, Glendale United Methodist Church, September 29, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ruth R. Williams has written: "Joy is within each one of us, within our deepest, most authentic Self. If we listen, it calls to us. The JOY Rx is the prescription needed to open hearts and minds to this call, allowing us to begin our journey of rediscovering joy."
Ruth R. WilliamsRuth R. Williams, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), is leading a workshop on Saturday, September 29 from 9am-3pm at Glendale United Methodist, 900 Glendale Lane in Nashville, on the "The Joy Prescription." Williams, an experienced psychotherapist, brings to the community her alternative prescription at a time when medicinal prescriptions are at an all-time high, with antidepressants heading the list.
Williams, self-described as a "natural" joy-maker and joy-keeper, started "soaking up the good stuff" at a very early age. She believes this has been the secret to her ability to keep smiling in spite of life's challenges. She takes her own complex but amusing life history, extensive professional experience, and intriguing spiritual journey and weaves them all into a very delightful, joy-filled day of exploration. Participants will learn how to increase their JQ (joy quotient), which Williams affirms will help strengthen their resilience in dealing with the overwhelming stress that inevitably shows up on a daily basis.
Williams (a Scarritt-trained United Methodist) says, "We all have the capacity within us to experience joy on a daily basis. Sometimes we forget we have the tools or haven't used them in a while. Treat yourself to a day apart from the stress, open to the possibility that life really can be more joy-filled!"
Williams, also a singer/songwriter, offers a bonus of both her CD's included in the price of the all-day workshop. "New People for a New World" is filled with original music plus an inspirational story. "Meditation of Joy" is a guided relaxation and meditation CD, a true gift to stressed-out folks!
Prior workshop participants have said, “Better than every stress workshop I’ve been to over the years;” “Refreshing for the mind and soul;” “Thought-provoking and timely.”
Call 615-332-2991 to make a phone reservation for the workshop. The $55 fee (which includes lunch and the two CD's) can also be sent to: Ruth R. Williams, P.O. Box 2723, Hendersonville, TN 37077-2723. You can reach Williams for scheduling other workshops or sermons-in-song at the above address and phone number or through her website, http://www.ruthwilliams.com/ or http://www.thejoyrx.com/. Email her at ruth@ruthwilliams.com.
United Methodist Foundation for the Area Reports from the Past Quarter
by Vin Walkup*
The Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation Board of Directors met at First United Methodist Church in Jackson on August 21, 2007. With the recent volatility in the market board members were cautiously anticipating our year-to-date reports. As is often the case, we heard some good news and some bad news.
Dr. Vin WalkupFirst, the good news: the second quarter of the year showed a 5% growth in funds invested with the Foundation, with a year-to-date growth of 7.18% through June 30. Now, the “bad news”: In July and August we have experienced a lot of volatility in investments. Through August 17th our investments had declined by 3.5%. However, we still have a growth of slightly more than 3.5% for the year through that date. We are currently managing and investing for churches across our two conference over $22 million. Thanks to all of you who have put your trust in the Foundation and seek to fulfill the ministry of extending and strengthening ministries across the Area and for years to come.
The United Methodist Development Fund of TN/KY, Inc., continues to have a good year for participants and for churches and ministries which need loans. The Board has voted to maintain the 4.8% rate paid on participant accounts. Members also approved keeping the loan rates at 7% with a two-year balloon/renewal and 6.5% for an interest only loan with a one-year balloon/renewal. All of these rates are very good and competitive. Remember that the purpose of the Development Fund is to give United Methodists a means of helping other United Methodists. Currently there are thirty-seven active loans and participants have placed over $8 million in the fund for loans to churches and ministries in the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.
You may check for more information on the Foundation’s website: http://www.nashaumf.org/, or you may contact Dr. Vin Walkup, Paulette Dowdy (615- 259-2008), or Tiffany Raines (615-259-2066) or by email at vwalkup@nashaumf.org.
*The Rev. Vin Walkup is President and CEO of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation
Prelude to the Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity
The Convocation on Church Renewal for Nashville Area Laity, led by Dr. James Scott and Molly Scott will be held Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. There is no registration fee for the event. You effectively register when you order a box lunch. The lunch will be ordered for you when you send a check for $8.00 payable to the Tennessee Annual Conference to Mrs. Vicki Sharber, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 1, Nashville, TN 37211. Luncheon orders for Tennessee Conference laity will be closed when 175 reservations have been made, or by Tuesday, October 30, 2007, whichever occurs first. The caterer will be provided a list of those who have paid reservations; no tickets will be mailed. Restoring Methodism is strongly recommended reading prior to the Convocation on Church Renewal.
Article three in a series of three articles
Letter to a Layperson
By Dr. James B. Scott and Dr. Molly Davis Scott
My dear friend and colleague in Christ Jesus,
I am clergy. Having been an ordained elder for 46 years, I am now completely immersed in that role. But actually I am just getting started, because my goal is to serve Christ in active ministry another 25 years. The next 25 years could very well be my most fruitful. All this is to say I am not sure I have a good grasp after all these years of what it means to be, feel, and think like you, a layperson, perhaps especially if you are young.
However, I can share my heart with you and tell you what I hope and dream and want for you in the Christian life. That is the purpose of this letter. I can only share that which is in my heart and that to which I have given my life. In truth, what I want for you is very much what I desire and seek for myself. Here is the substance of that hope.
The Rev. John Wesley was driven by one primary thought throughout his life: to help people get to heaven. In that vein, I want you to find and grasp the heaven that lives in the Kingdom of God. It is a blessing, a joy that will continue in the next life. My “job” is to help you find new life by being united with God, being formed in the image of Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit, and serving Christ in the world.
I want you to experience the presence of Christ so profoundly that you will be compelled to share your experience with others and hunger for them to know Christ. I can help you with this.
The next thing I wish for you is that you would learn the biblical and theological essentials of the Christian faith as reflected in our Wesleyan heritage.
What we believe is important; there are essential beliefs of the Christian faith that are non-negotiables. I can help you with this.
Understanding what I have just said was why Mr. Wesley was so firm on the means of grace. The instituted means of grace, so named because they were instituted by Jesus, are the Church, Prayer, Scripture, the Sacraments, and Fasting. For Wesley and the early Methodists, the prudential means of grace, so named because they were practical ways by which we were connected to each other and growing in grace and knowledge, were the Society, the Class Meeting, the Band, the Love Feast, and the Covenant Service. Holy Conferencing could take place in any one of the prudential means of grace and at the Annual Conference. The instituted means of grace kept us connected to the Trinity; the prudential means of grace kept us connected to each other and to our ministry in the world.
For two hundred years, laity and clergy clearly understood that the heart of Methodism was the Class Meeting, the most important of the prudential means of grace. Unfortunately, that went away in the 1930s, along with many other things. One of the benefits of the Class Meeting was that lifetime relationships were formed. No matter what kind of family you had or did not have, the Class Meeting became friends and family. I can help you with this.
In our Methodist history, there was a focus on the gift of justification that comes by faith and the gift of sanctification that comes by faith. I want to talk with you about what these two things mean, not only for our spiritual life in Christ but for our practical spiritual life in the world. I can help you with this.
If you are married or have children, I want your family to experience and live the love of Christ. Mr. Wesley was especially concerned about children, and I am too. I am very worried about our children and youth. You and I need to work hard in today’s culture to ensure that our children and grandchildren are raised in the faith and experience Christ. I can help you with this.
Serving Christ in the world is almost a by-product of faith itself. It is in serving that we discover our true self. Part of my job is to help you find that place and develop the expertise and skills to succeed. I want you to be in full ministry. I can really help you with this.
I love the Church of Jesus Christ. I love Methodism. Methodism is one of the greatest movements of God since the first century. I want you to love the Church as you love Christ. It is His Body. I want you to love the Church enough to challenge me—or anyone else—when you see that we have gone astray. Love and obedience to Christ supersedes your commitment to me. The Church in America and The United Methodist Church are in precarious times. But precarious times also present an opportunity for God to perform great acts in history. This I believe God will do. I can help you with this.
Finally, I want us to dedicate ourselves to working together and serving each other—but above all, to serving Christ. Only by working together with equality between laity and clergy, under the teaching and leadership of the Holy Spirit will we accomplish the work given to each of us.
What is it that you want? Write me a letter expressing what is in your heart. What are the hopes and dreams you have for yourself, your family, the Church? What do you want from me? I can help you with this.
Your colleague in Christ,
A Clergyperson
Note: Responses may be sent to A Clergyperson, 600 Mundell Road, Eureka Springs, AR 72631.
Fall Lay Speaking Ministries School Completed in Cookeville District
The Cookeville District completed its fall Lay Speaking School at Centertown UMC in McMinnville Tennessee on August 24 & 25.
Graduates in the Basic Course
The Basic Course was taught by District Superintendent Dr. Harold Martin and Certified Lay Speakers Tenna King and Holly Neal. Graduates of this class from the Cookeville District were Carolyn Borum, Karla Brock, Susan Burrows, Mary Dishman, Junior Foster, B.J. Meeks, Sally Turner, and Andy Winfree; from the Murfreesboro District were Darlene Houk, Christie Schafer, Monica Smith and Virginia Yeargins.
The Faith Sharing Class taught by Rev. Mark CarriganTwo Advanced Courses were offered – Faith Sharing taught by Rev. Mark Carrigan. Those that completed this class as Certified Lay Speakers from the Cookeville District were Anita Arnold, Larry Elliott, Michael Lorance, Curtis Strode, JeLaine Taylor, Betty Turner, Tom Watkins, and Willy Young;. from the Cumberland District Rebecca Sue Ladd completed the class. Auditing Faith Sharing was David Grissom from the Cookeville District.
Graduates in the Advanced Course Don’t Shoot the Horse 'Til You Know How to Drive the TractorThe other Advanced Course was Don’t Shoot the Horse 'Til You Know How to Drive the Tractor – Moving from Annual Fundraising to a Life of Giving. Teachers for this class were Dr. Harold Martin and Vivian Martin. Completing this class from the Cookeville District were Doris Abston, Robin Carrigan, Lenny Elligan, Josh and Joanna Newberry, Nancy Priest, McKenzie (Ken) Roberts and from the Columbia District, Jerry Patton.
Highlights from the fall school were the marvelous hospitality provided by the Centertown UMC minister Rev. Maurice Moore and the congregation. They provided meals on Friday evening, lunch on Saturday, plus wonderful snacks and the men of the church arose early cooking breakfast for participants on Saturday morning. It was a blessing having four districts learning together during the Lay Speaking School.
Several family connections were evident among the participants – mother and daughter Darlene Houk and Christie Schafer, sisters Betty Turner and Susan Burrows, husband and wife Josh and Joanna Newberry.
The closing worship was lead by Centertown UMC Song Leader Barry Underwood and pianist Wayne Page. Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries, Gloria Watts, encouraged the Lay Speakers in their ministries. Also present were Cookeville Lay Leader Don Kenne and many of the student’s pastors, families and friends. The Local Church Lay Speakers were anointed with oil and received certificates as did the Certified Lay Speakers. The service concluded with Holy Communion served by teachers for the school District Superintendent Harold Martin, Vivian Martin, Tenna King and Rev. Mark Carrigan.
The Cookeville District would like to invite potential Local Church and Certified Lay Speakers to join us for our Spring Class, April 4 & 5, 2008 at Crossville First UMC. The cost for each class is $40 which includes text book, lunch and snacks during the weekend. Classes being offered are: Basic Course and Advanced Courses – Faithful Leadership - Learning to Lead with Power lead by Brother John Halliburton; From Your Heart to Theirs – Delivering the Effective Sermon taught by Pastor James Johnson and Lay Speakers Discover Spiritual Gifts – teachers Pastor Fay Tucker and Certified Lay Speaker Jon Goodwin.
For more information on Lay Speaking Ministries in the Cookeville District please contact Director Holly Neal by calling 1-866-244-5155 or email hneal56@yahoo.com
Pleasant View United Methodist Church Becomes Distribution Site for Angel Food Ministries
By Teresa Smith*, photos by Kelley Meadows*
Angel Food Ministry now has an order and distribution site in Pleasant View. Saturday was the first distribution day for Angel Food Ministries at Pleasant View United Methodist Church. Angel Food Ministry defines itself as grocery relief for all families.
Pleasant View UMC has volunteers of all ages as you can see with Patrick Alary. He is known to hand out smiles along with the potatoes.The program is an outreach to the community to provide nutritious food at a more than reasonable price to anyone that would like to participate. Participants need only to place an order two weeks in advance and arrive at the distribution date to receive their food. There are no applications or qualifications required.
A basic unit is priced at $28.00, will feed a family of 4 for a week and is valued at approximately $60.00. There are also 3-4 specials per month that are reasonably priced packages of meat. Menus are available on purchase days, on the website, http://www.pvumc.info/ and on food distribution days. Orders and distribution of food is accomplished on a monthly basis.
Photo #10, caption: Members of Pleasant View UMC's youth group (here Zack Steele) lend a helping hand to those unable to handle the boxes for food for themselves.To illustrate how the system works using the schedule for September, 2007: Orders for September were taken at Pleasant View United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening, September 11 from 5:30-7:30 and on Saturday, September 15 from 12:00-2:00. The distribution day for the orders is Saturday, September 29 from 12:00-2:00. Pleasant View United Methodist Church is located on Church Street and shares parking lot facilities with Pleasant View Elementary.
*Teresa Smith is chair of the missions committee of Pleasant View UMC and Kelley Meadows is a member of Pleasant View UMC
UMVIM Zimbabwe 2006
By Jan Schilling*
In April 2006, I was privileged to be on the initial UMW Ubuntu Explorer trip to Zimbabwe, Africa. This was a women sharing with women trip, not your typical mission. There was no construction, no medical per se, no cottage industries. What we did, however, was share with each other and found that our problems were the same, no matter where we lived.
We arrived in Harare and went to visit the district headquarters of the United Methodist Church. We met some other missionaries and the Bishop and his wife. From there, we went to our local host families for the evening. These were definitely the upper class Zims, since their homes were nicer than most of ours!
Jan Schilling telling the Zimbabwe ladies what life was like growing up in the segregated South and challenges she faced as a young girl in the 50s and 60s and 70s.On Saturday, we toured some missions that are close the Harare. I was amazed at the size and multitude of services they offer. It made me feel so proud (I know we’re not supposed to be) to be a United Methodist when I saw the cross and flame everywhere we went! We visited the Nyadire School, complete with nursing school for 1000 students (all female), a high school with 500 students and a primary school with 850 students. There is also a small orphanage for 24 boys and girls. The whole place is incredibly clean.
We also visited another mission school with 1,516 primary students with 170 as boarders. This school was sponsored by the UMW. Next we visited the Tambanevana Centre. It is a small school for disadvantaged or orphans. They had computers donated by the United Kingdom.
They have 100 students per day and maintain their own garden and playground. There is a building under way to house 50 toddlers, 1 – 3 years old.
On Sunday, we went to church with our host families. It was very strange to walk into a service knowing it was going to be in Shona, but the opening hymn was ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ (in Shona) and the service was the traditional United Methodist service so it was very easy to follow the Apostle’s Creed, Lord’s Prayer and Doxology in Shona. The anthem was a traditional African piece accompanied only by a small drum. There were no other musical instruments and the sound was wonderful!
On Monday, we loaded into a bus and headed to the conference site in Mutare, La Rochelle. It was an old English country estate that has been converted into a ‘resort’. It was surrounded by a famous rose garden which we didn’t get to enjoy due to rain every day! On the way, we stopped at Clare Mission, a newly acquired school for over 400 children, most of whom had no shoes or uniforms. They are the children of local migrant and farm workers and walk a tremendous distance to school every day. We also picked up several more Zim ladies on the way. The Bishop gave an opening talk after dinner (we were not expecting him and it was hard for the ZIM ladies to relax with a man in the group) and then we packed boxes for missions and headed to bed.
Schilling leads a hand weaving workshop during the conference.
Tuesday we began the conference in earnest with presentations by the youth and some craft sharing. We also sang a lot in both Shona and English. Each day during the week, there were talks by the American and the Zims about issues we face. Like the bishop said, e-mail and snail mail are nice but we need to see each other face to face. We visited many more missions, the site of the first United Methodist church in Zimbabwe and Africa University. Imagine our surprise to find a See Rock City birdhouse there! Apparently, a church in the Chattanooga area donated a lot of money to the College of Agriculture. We were also honored to have afternoon tea with the Chancellor and some of his staff.
On Friday, we loaded up the bus and headed back to Harare. We stopped at the District office and had a service with Holy Communion. Their grape juice is a weak cherry tasting Kool Aid. It was sad to leave our sisters. We had become quite close in such a short time. Of course, we sang our hearts out along the way! We stopped again at Clare Mission to leave suitcases of supplies for the children.
Saturday we were taken to another United Methodist Church in Harare for a conference. The pews were of a dark mahogany wood, paneled like our kitchen cabinets. They were very beautiful but not made to sit in for four hours! We were told that there are 1000 people in worship there on Sundays. We had heard some of the talks before during the week but it was important information for our Zim sisters, some of it about AIDS. After a lunch and tour of their wares for sale, we headed to the American Women’s Club meeting at an estate in Harare. There was MORE FOOD, mostly American, and chatter. I met a lady who was a supplier for Nissan in Smyrna where I had retired from. I also met a lady whose children were the first blacks at Peabody Demonstration School in Nashville. She was originally from Mississippi.
Sunday saw us headed to Victoria Falls for a very brief debrief session. After fretting about extreme weight restrictions on our luggage, we weren’t even checked. I guess the sight of 12 United Methodist Women in a group was enough to scare anyone! In only 24 hours we would be headed back to the states and separate. It was a very good trip and I look forward to more in the future.
*Schilling is a member of First United Methodist Church, Smyrna, an active part of the local United Methodist Women’s unit, and a participant in Volunteers in Mission and Mt. TOP
The God of Superabundance
By Dr. Ted Hill*
99 Bottles of beer on the wall
99 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around
98 bottles of beer on the wall.
98 bottles of beer on the wall
98 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around
97 bottles of beer on the wall.
97 bottles of beer on the wall…….etc.
Don’t ask me why I remember this little jingle I sang as a kid. I just did. My sister and I used to sing it growing up when we would go on vacation with my parents. I guess we learned it in order to pass the time and deal with the boredom of travel. Remember, then there was radio, of course, (I’m not that old you know!) but between cities one would get out of range and all you could hear was static anyway. No, there was no in-car video. And yes, you could only count so many cows in the fields as you motored down the road on your side of the car and so many out of state license plates.
You won’t believe this, but I think my Dad is responsible for teaching us this. My Dad- a preacher; a tee-totaling “holy-roller” as we were sometimes not so affectionately called.
Your Dad, a minister taught you a song about beer? I’m telling you, those trips could be long and boring for a kid who kept asking, “Are we there yet?” “Can’t we stop at a motel with a pool NOW and go swimming?” “When do we eat?” “I have to go to the bathroom!” He had to keep his sanity too, you know. So why not a song about beer on the wall-at least is was some diversion for the “Are we there yet?” questions.
Actually this came to mind in a series of seemingly unrelated events.
I am preparing to share in presiding duties for my oldest daughter’s wedding. I decided to look at the story of Jesus at the wedding at Cana, his first act to show who he was, according to the Gospel writer of John. I thought, this would be a great story to look at to see what Jesus thinks about marriage. Well, the gospel always goes beyond our concepts of what we are looking for and this was no exception. Yes, Jesus did go to a wedding. Yes, he was prevailed upon, by his mother no less, to intervene when the wine ran out-which would have been a disgrace to those who were responsible for hospitality. But the great part of the story for my purpose in this is that not only did he provide wine, and I mean FINE wine, he provided 120-180 gallons of wine! Now when you talk of that much wine, if you were there, the difference between 120 and 180 would not have been noticed. (Maybe that’s why the writer couldn’t remember!) The point is that there was a superabundance! That is the way God is; even at weddings. Providing more than enough for everybody. Even wine. After all, it is a celebration.
Yesterday, a patient came in for a routine follow up visit. Before he left, he produced a note from his friend, also a patient of Salvus*, requesting Lipitor. We had started the note writer on some samples and his application for a long term supply from the drug company had not yet been processed. Well, I looked in the drug closet and found a bottle but it may have been the last and I told the bearer of the note, this may be all we have for a while and to be sure the writer completes and submits his application. Within the hour, we had a drug rep visit us, which is unusual because I write fewer scripts of new drugs that reps would like us to, so they don’t visit us much. Well, guess what she brought us samples of? Yep; Lipitor! And I mean a lot! 72 months worth! 2160 pills!
Well, you see the connection. God still provides in abundance. It is like the song--the song goes on when you get to the last bottle of beer on the wall, by the way. You start over with-
99 bottles of beer on the wall.
99 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around,
98 bottles of beer on the wall…
Let’s have a party and celebrate! God is here and providing the drink!
*Dr. Ted Hill is a medical doctor and a probationary deacon in the Tennessee Conference. He is appointed to the Salvus clinic for people in Sumner County who work but have no insurance and to First United Methodist Church in Gallatin. He reports that a second clinic is scheduled to be opened in Hendersonville during the next 8-12 months.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 2:59 PM
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