Asbury United Methodist Church asburyumcjvl.org

September Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

¹¹The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings: 11-13)

August Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

“Are We Meeting Your Needs?”

Recently, I read an article from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership that focused on “doing church” online. Of course, this is the hot topic in churches all over America as we seek to engage congregations in the new and often uncharted way. The study identified three trends for online worship: Transferring, Translation, and Transforming.

Transferring is the “most common strategy.” It basically reproduces the traditional in-person worship service by simply filming worship leaders in their sanctuaries conducting a service as if nothing has really changed. It consists of basically setting up a camera at the back of the church and video recording worship – minus the people in the pews!

July Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

The wait will soon be over!

If all goes well, we will offer opportunities for “in-person” worship – at Asbury – beginning July 5th, with outdoor services each Sunday at 9 a.m. We plan to offer outdoor services throughout the month of July after which we will consider using the sanctuary once again. Online worship will continue for those who prefer that option.

June Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

When and How??? Everyone is asking the same questions . . . and they all have to do with “when” and “how.” Of course, I am referring to the difficult question of when and how will things get back to normal and when and how will places re-open. And the question that I get that is on many of your minds is when and how will we get back to worshiping together in the sanctuary of the Asbury Church building.

May Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

God said, “See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:19)

This verse has taken on a whole new level of meaning these days. For just as in the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people of God are being asked to do a new thing! God is taking us upon a voyage in deep, uncharted waters. We are being challenged to “do ministry” in ways we have never attempted before. We must constantly ask ourselves, what are we discovering upon this voyage? What will we learn that is indeed new, and hopefully, meaningful to ministry and our individual and corporate spirituality?

April Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

I am writing this on March 15, 2020. It is 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Everything seems so strange.

The sanctuary is empty, dark, and quiet. Where folks usually are lifting their voices together in praise, there is an eerie silence. No words of praise, no songs of worship, no Scripture being read, no Good News being preached.

March Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

Believe it or not, the season of Lent is upon us. It is that time when we need to do a bit of “self-checking” in a spiritual sense. (We should ALWAYS do this “spiritual check-up” but Lent seems to offer us a unique and intentional time to focus on this.)

February Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

For me, there is something really special about mountains! Of all the places Diana and I and our boys have traveled, I must say that vacations to the Alps or the Rocky Mountains rank near the top destinations we’ve visited.

January Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

Ready or not, 2020 is upon us! So, what will be our vision for the New Year? Hopefully, we will enter 2020 with 20/20 vision and keep our eyes focused on the message of Jesus Christ to love one another, just as God loves us! (See John 13: 34-35)

For many of us, the ringing in of a new year marks the possibility of new beginnings, new opportunities, and fresh starts. For some of us, it’s an opportunity to hit our “reset” button. For others, it’s a time of refocusing on the important aspects of our lives and our families. For yet others, it’s a time to bury the burdens of the past and look forward to a better tomorrow.

December Pastor’s Pondering

Christmas is for Children.

There is a special bit of magic in Christmas which only a child can capture. It’s the magic of colored lights, cookies and candies, sounds of bells and carols, the winter cold remedied by the warmth of a fire and the taste of hot chocolate. It’s Christmas Eve worship and snow gently falling as we sing “Silent Night,” candle in hand. It’s the magic of Christmas gifts and the wonder of what awaits in those carefully wrapped boxes tempting little ones to peek. It’s anticipation and excitement at its very best.

November Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Thanksgiving Message

Many of you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite celebration of the year! It is a peaceful, even restful day that offers us an opportunity to reflect upon all those things that make us grateful. It is a time of families coming together, joining at the table, enjoying a wonderful harvest feast.

But for me personally, this Thanksgiving is going to be very different. With Diana, still being tube fed, the family meal just isn’t going to be the same. The meal element of the day, I expect, will be deemphasized, but the expressions of Thanksgiving will not. For I have so much for which to be thankful.

October Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering

October may very well be my favorite month of the year!

I enjoy watching the leaves change from summer green to the red and yellow and golden hues of autumn. I enjoy the crisp air at night while still basking in the warmth of these Fall days. I enjoy the honking of geese migrating in their grand “V” patterns and the sight of blackbirds flocking by the thousands. I enjoy the crunch of leaves underfoot as I walk the Ice Age Trail and Farmers’ Markets full of harvest produce. And I enjoy the taste and the smell of pumpkin spice in so many seasonal dishes. Even when indoors, I enjoy this time of year with football games being played and championship baseball being decided.