Join us Sunday, August 10, in the City Park (on Main Street just north of Food Factory restaurant) at 10:30 a.m. for Worship in the Park.  Bring your lawn chairs as we praise God and celebrate God's creation around us.  The Patriot Choir will join and lead us in singing.  Bring a sack lunch and stay for a time of food and fellowship together after worship.  The morning's message is entitled "Deep Water!" based on Matthew 14:22-33.

Blessings,
Pastor Jean

Pastor’s Ponderings about

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what the Vital Church Initiative is all about and I really want to keep this before us as a congregation…why are we doing what we are doing?

This is the description of the Vital Church Initiative as found on the West Michigan Conference website:

“The Vital Church Initiative (VCI) is a process of renewal for growing healthy, vital, fruitful, missional congregations in the Michigan Area of the UMC.  Today many of our congregations find themselves on a plateau or in decline.  VCI offers our pastors and congregations a better future, as the process offers hope to leaders of congregations that have lost their outward focus.  VCI prepares them for systemic change that will enable them to once again answer God’s call to reach out to new people with the Good News.

“A trained coach (our coach is Rev. Mary Brown) will walk along with the congregation as they work to fulfill the prescriptions from the consultation event.  We know that systemic change occurs as a result of hard work, but the gain far outweighs the pain.  Once change has occurred, a whole new world of opportunity opens up and once again a congregation and pastor can enjoy the fruits and love of being an outwardly focused church bringing new people to Christ.  Our goal is to equip leaders to lead a congregation back into God’s mission field.”

Pastor Mary has led one workshop helping us understand Accountable Leadership and soon we will be offering two more workshops: 1) Vision and Goal-setting and 2) Part 2 of Accountable Leadership.  The members of the Ad Council and VCI Leadership Team are reading the book Winning on Purpose by John Edmund Kaiser which, along with the two Accountable Leadership workshops, will help us make some meaningful adjustments to the way our church leadership works.

I continue to participate in monthly peer mentoring sessions with three other pastors, Dale Ostema and Chris Lane from Traverse City Central UMC and Bob Freysinger from Kalkaska UMC.  In July we read and discussed the book Ultimately Responsible by Sue Nilson Kibbey.  And I’m reading The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni for our August and September meetings.

My friends, this process is not an easy one and there are many components to the process of fulfilling the prescriptions given to us in the Consultation Report back in February.  If you do not have or did not receive a copy of the Consultation Report, please contact me and I will make sure that you receive one.

This is also not something that I, as your pastor, can do on my own…nor can the members of the Ad Council or the VCI Leadership Team…this is our work together as a congregation and I’m excited to see where God is leading us.

                             Blessings,

                         July Sermon Series
                  “Imagine the People of God”
                             Joel 2:28-32
July 6            "Imagination"            Ephesians 3:16-20           
July 13           “Compassion”           Philippians 2:1-10                July 20           “Transformation”       Romans 12                          July 27            “Fruition”                 Galatians 5:13-23

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.”  ~2Timothy 1:1 (NIV)

This is the opening sentence in Paul’s second letter to his protégé, Timothy. Paul was sitting in prison, knowing he’d soon face his executioner and he wrote this letter to Timothy (and ultimately to us) to inspire, challenge, and motivate him to carry on the gospel ministry.

I especially want you to notice the phrase “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.”  Paul didn’t seek this work; rather he was chosen by God to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The same is true for us…while we may have particular things we like to do at church, each of us has been called and gifted by God for a particular ministry that will ultimately “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

There are a couple of reasons this passage of scripture touched my heart this morning.  First, if you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are or desire to have a deeper understanding of where God is calling you to serve His church, I invite you to go to this web address (http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/spiritual-gifts) and take the spiritual gifts inventory there (it’s all online…sorry).

Discovering and using your spiritual gifts at Lake City United Methodist Church will help us, as a church, continue to grow in vitality.  One of the prescriptions from the VCI consultation was to conduct a church-wide spiritual gifts inventory and personality assessment in order to confirm each person’s ministry calling and adjust your roles as needed.  Completing this inventory would put you ahead of the game.  There will be more information about how we will complete the church-wide study in a few weeks.

Secondly, lest you think the Vital Church Initiative has fallen by the wayside…fear not!  The Ad Council is currently reading the book, Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser, and will be receiving additional training on the single board model of church leadership in July.  And in a few weeks there will be a workshop to develop the vision for how we will live out “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” and to begin to set goals for numeric and spiritual growth in the various areas of our ministry together. 

There may be others of you in the congregation invited to participate in the vision and goal-setting workshop so we can get more input into this process.  If you’re feel called by God to be a part of this workshop, please let me know.

I’m excited as we continue on this journey to grow in vital ministry with one another and in our community.

                                    God’s blessings,
                                            Pastor Jean

      Opening worship at Annual Conference...Bishop Kiesey essentially preached about Loving Large...Love God, Love one another even in spite of disagreements. Sounds easy, right? But, of course, it's not. So how do we do it? 1) Stay in relationship; 2) Listen carefully to one another in an effort to understand not make an argument; 3) Look for Christ in everyone (especially those with whom we disagree); and 4) Be committed to work together. Even in the midst of change, Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever!
      Lake City U.M.C. this is our mandate...be courageous creations seeing ways where others only see obstacles and fear.  How might we courageously create new spaces for new faces?  How might we meet the needs that are unique to our community?  How might we bring the light of Christ into places that have, until now, been dark and scary places?  The changes we are implementing at our church seem to be making some folks nervous because I see evidence of fearful reactions...focusing on small things instead of keeping our eyes on "Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."  It's easier to argue about the little things, than face the big ways God is calling us to step out.  Above all else, Bishop Deb calls us to stay in relationship with one another, listen carefully in an effort to understand the other person's point of view, see Christ in one another (especially those with whom we disagree), and be committed to working together, looking for those things that unite us, not separate us.
      It's only day one of AC and I'm excited to see where God is leading this Conference.  Continue to lift us all in prayer as we seek to remain the United Methodist Church and not allow issues to divide us.
Blessings,
Pastor Jean

P.S. Look up two courageous women in the Old Testament:  Shiphrah and Puah In Exodus 1:15-22 and you'll be amazed at the creative ways these women kept the Hebrew race alive

   Some of you know that we had been bringing our 9-month-old Springer Spaniel puppy, Cooper, with us to worship on Sunday mornings during the month of May.  We had a couple of goals in mind in doing this...#1 Cooper would become more people-socialized; and #2 God might reach out through Cooper and touch someone needing a touch of love and grace.  Unfortunately, we were asked to stop bringing our dog to church with us.  I appreciate that some folks are afraid of dogs and that there are allergies to pet dander and respect the request made of us.  But, I want to take this opportunity to share with you a "Jesus-moment" that happened as a result of Cooper coming to church with us.
   Gary (my husband) and Cooper are best friends...and Cooper truly is just another member of our family.  And since our family attends church on Sunday mornings, why not Cooper?  Gary and Cooper were serving as greeters at the door during the month of May.  Cooper made many friends at the door to the church and one of those friends is a teenage boy who worships with us on an occasional basis. This young man is very quiet, reserved, and doesn't often speak with or look anyone in the eye.  However, on those Sunday's when Cooper was at church, this young man spent some time actually talking with Gary and interacting with Cooper.
   So my questions to ponder...Are we missing an opportunity to reach out to someone who needs a special friend and relates better to animals than people?  And what if it's no coincidence that D-O-G is God spelled backwards?
   Just something to consider...

Pastor Jean

It’s time to get back at the Vital Church Initiative prescriptions.  By the time you receive this we will have completed two of the things prescribed…on May 28th Rev. Mary Brown, our VCI coach, led a workshop on the “Single Board Model” of church governance.  We will be implementing the realignments we learned as a Church Council by October 5, 2014.

Secondly, on June 1st, under the leadership of Rev. Ben Ingrebretson we participated in a service of prayer, healing, and forgiveness to embrace God’s mandate for making disciples.  This will allow us to be prepared to receive God’s vision for the future of Lake City U.M.C.

On Sunday, June 8th, I will begin a four-week sermon series entitled “Loving Large” that will challenge us to live out the “Great Commandment” found in Mark 12:30-31.  Jesus was answering a teacher of religious law’s question: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  Without hesitation Jesus replied:  “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

This four-week series is about loving.  Loving large.  Not just talking about it, but doing it.  It will involve loving God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.  And this love for God will be closely linked with loving people in a way that is a lot like how you love yourself. 

Jesus wanted us to infuse our world with a love that we have received and learned from God.  This kind of love can, in fact, change our world.  So, in a world that seems to run on so many things (money, greed, oil, power, and so forth), what would our world look like if it ran on love?  This series will give real opportunities for you to love God and love neighbors in the hopes of a changed world, a changed community, and a changed you. 

My prayer is that you will make a point to be in worship each Sunday these next four weeks…invite your friends and neighbors, too.  We will continue our journey in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!”

†      †      †      †      †

“Loving Large” Sermon Series - Pastor Jean Smith

Week 1 (June 8)       “The Distracted Life” (Matthew 22:34-40)
Week 2 (June 15)    “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher” (Song of Songs 8:6-7)
Week 3 (June 22)    “Loving is Giving” (Matthew 6:19-24)
Week 4 (June 29)    “Can We Really Change the World?” (Mark 12:28-34)

On Sunday, April 27th I spoke about the 5 P's of Spiritual Health...wished I had put them into a powerpoint so that you could make note of them for future reference...but instead I promised to post them on Lake City UMC's  Facebook page and Website...so here you go:

"Just as there are five servings of vegetables and fruits per day to keep us physically fit, and five mental exercises we should practice every day to keep our minds strong and supple, so there are five spiritual exercises to keep a healthy spirit.  Let’s call them “The 5 P’s of Spiritual Health.”

Proximity:  Like Thomas, we must keep ourselves connected to our community.  The greatest gift Jesus left was the strength of a community of faith.  For our soul’s health and holiness the reality of relationships isn’t an option.  Relationships are where our spiritual life is fed and watered, weeded, and nurtured.

Pray…In Private:  Jesus was always excusing Himself from His disciples, from crowds clamoring for miracles, from the distraction of everydayness, to seek singular time with God.  Jesus went up mountains, out on boats, into the desert, just to have some personal, private time with the Father.  Singular prayer is never solitary.  There’s always a listening ear.  In the silence of solitude all doubts and despairs, all heights and depths, can be revealed and relinquished to a higher power.

Pray…In Community:  Giving voice to the needs of others is like getting a great massage.  It makes everything in you work better, feel better, and be better for those around you.  Praying for your faith community, your school, your workplace, your hometown, your country, your world, connects you and suddenly makes you invested in your world.  Praying communally grows your spirit beyond your own needs, beyond your own self.  Praying communally saves us from the Grinch’s curse of living with a spirit “three sizes too small.”

Praxis:  Praxis is a fancy word for “practice what you preach.”  Praxis is exercising your faith in everydayness.  Praxis can be offered on your most “Doubting Thomas Days.”  Sometimes you have to go through the motions, even when you doubt.  Sometimes the only thing that you can do is keep moving and doubt your doubt.  Go buy groceries for the food bank.  Visit someone in a nursing home who has no family in the area.  Deliver some meals on wheels to those who can’t get out.  If you have a day when you can’t feel your faith, do acts of faithfulness instead.

Praise:  Even on “Low Sunday,” it’s still spring.  The world is God’s creation and here in the northern hemisphere it’s exploding with new life.  How can we not see God’s presence in what’s all around us?  Even on the most dismal of days, stretch your spirit to find a praise to offer God.  For light, for dark; for noise, for quiet; for harmonic resonance, for dissonant discord; for a loving family, for a singular life; for great success, for simple sustenance.  Praises multiply every day we care to express them.  Offer praise daily, and the categories for praise become legion."

God bless...and if you'd like to talk with me about how God is moving in your life, please feel free to call the church office and make an appointment with me!

Blessings,
Pastor Jean

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  ~Psalm 118:24

    As I write this we are on the verge of the first day of Spring.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready!  It's been a long, cold, snowy winter and the weather forecasters are predicting a couple more inches of snow overnight (yuck!).
    But then I got to thinking about what the psalmist wrote: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  This line brought me back in line...each day is a gift from God and we ought to be thankful for it.  Sarah Young writes in her book Jesus Calling, "Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life.  Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances."  So...enough complaining about the weather.  Soon enough it will be 90 degrees with 90% humidity...well, you get my point!
    The VCI Church Conference was held on Sunday, March 16, and 90% of those voting supported our pursuit of the prescriptions made by the Consultation Team.  I'm excited and anxious to get moving forward as we strive to "Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!"  Each of you will most likely be called upon to serve on one of several task forces in the coming weeks... "Be careful not to complain about anything," but rather prayerfully consider how you might affect change and growth in this spiritual house we call the church!  Sarah goes on to write, "Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past.  There is abundant Life in My Presence today."
    Where might God be calling you to serve His church as we strive to seek God's vision for us?  No, we don't have the complete picture at this point...and we most likely will never have the full picture.  But we are seeking to be faithful to God's call right here and right now...taking one step at a time in complete faith and trust in God's provision and path!
    Remember that the consultants praised our friendliness, our generosity, our adaptability, our financial responsibility, and our facility.  We have done so many things right and according to God's plan...now it's time to make the next step (maybe even a leap) of faith knowing that God has greater things yet to come and greater things still to be done in this city!
    Just a reminder...I'm having knee surgery on March 27th and will be out of the office for at least two weeks.  I will resume my regular preaching and office schedule the week of Easter!  I'm looking forward to not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ; but I'm also looking forward to the resurrection of my ability to walk and enjoy life again!
                        Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!
                                    Pastor Jean

    Today's Ash Wednesday and a friend of mine posted Psalm 51 from The Message in her blog and it so touched me, I wanted to share it with you:
51 1-3 "Generous in love—God, give grace!
    Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
    soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
    my sins are staring me down.
  4-6 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve
seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
    whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
    in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
    Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. 
7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out
clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
    I’ll let loose with your praise. 
16-17 Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
    a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. 
18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in,
    repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.
Then you’ll get real worship from us,
    acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls they
can heave onto your altar!"
    Wow, so true...we don't want God to look too closely at those things we're ashamed of.  We appreciate the appearances of godliness in our lives...we love it when we're noticed for doing something special.  But God knows those things we like to keep hidden.  He knows all the broken places in our lives, he knows the hidden truth, and all the ugliness.
    But as we begin this Lenten journey, we are given the opportunity, with God's help, to come clean, to strive to live lives that reflect Jesus wherever we go.  I love the line in this Psalm, "Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise" (v. 15).  That's my prayer...that we won't be quiet about praising God; that we won't keep the truth about the places where we've experienced God's love and grace in our lives so that others might come to know this amazing God, too!  Join me as we journey with Jesus through these final weeks of His life and look forward to His resurrection-power in all of our lives!
Blessings,
    Pastor Jean