A Light to My Path (2 Kings 23:1-3 and Revelation 21:1-6)

As we begin a new year, take some time to pray about the plans God has for you.....and the ability God will give you to carry out those plans.

As you read 2 Kings 23:1-3, try to read it with the eyes of someone who has forgotten the covenant God has made with you.....and then you're reminded of that covenant and called back to it.  How does that change the way you think about God's promises?

Revelation 21:1-6a is full of hope.  What parts of this passage resonate with your spirit today?

 

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About the Author

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Who Is My Neighbor (2016 Recap)

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I always enjoy those ‘year in review’ pieces that cover a variety of subjects.  As I thought about how God has allowed us to meet and be in ministry with lots of different neighbors this year, I thought it might be good to do our own, “Who Is My Neighbor: 2016”.

Our neighbor is:

  • The family who had a job loss and needed help from the Good Samaritan Fund to pay their power bill.
  • The children who depend on school lunches for food and the Backpack Food Ministry keeps them fed throughout the weekend.
  • The many folks who experienced the power of prayer by spending time in the Calvary Prayer Room sponsored by Calvary Student Ministries:  and those who were the recipients of those prayers.
  • Those who lost everything in the Louisiana floods who received a Flood Bucket full of supplies to get their homes back into habitable space again.
  • The men, women, and children who are homeless and living at Home Sweet Home as they are provided the basic necessities to help them get back on their feet and into their own housing.
  • Those living at Home Sweet Home who were able to eat fresh produce thanks to Calvary’s Garden as well as those in the Food Pantry who were able to receive that produce.
  • Children who struggle enough with day to day needs like food and shelter received a special Easter Smiles Basket.
  • A single mom and her daughter were able to take a huge step forward and help Habitat for Humanity build their first house which they are now making into a home.
  • Walnique, Jonas, Rujerry, Phida, and so many more whose ministry in Fev, Haiti was strengthened as several Calvary folks walked with them to share the love of Jesus and to connect with their children through worship and play.
  • The many neighbors in Hurricane, West Virginia whose homes and hearts got makeovers from Calvary’s High School Workcamp as well as those in Bloomington/Normal who were served by a Group Workcamp that Calvary helped to support.

I’m quickly running out of space, so let’s celebrate the neighbors who were touched by those serving in the following ministries:

Fibers of Love, VBS Shoes for Haiti, Buliisa Child Sponsorship and Clean Water Project, The Baby Fold, Various Healthy Start collections, the Midwest Food Bank, Food Packaging for Illini Fighting Hunger, Calendars to Liberia, Faith in Action, Calvary’s own Food Box, Mom and Me Camp, Operation Christmas Child, The Angel Tree, Elmira Sellu, our missionary in Sierra Leone, Linda Unger, our missionary in Nairobi, Kenya, African University Scholarships, Disaster Response through the United Methodist Committee On Relief, Redbird Mission School, Alternative seating for Hammitt School, helping students connect with God through the ISU Wesley Foundation…..and SO many more!!!

Yes, these and MANY more people are our neighbors!  Thank you for making a difference in their lives in 2016!

About the Author

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Love Your Neighbor (John 1:16-18)

By December 25, our giving spirit is usually spent. Following our feasting and fellowship, we turn our focus to the new year to make resolutions for how we want to better ourselves. For God, the other hand, Christmas is the beginning of generosity. His “generous bounty” isn’t exhausted during Christmas. God continues to pour out "gift after gift after gift” throughout the rest of the story (which we celebrate throughout year). God gives grace through the life, teaching, and miracles of Jesus, through his death and resurrection, through the outpouring of Holy Spirit, and through the ongoing work of the Church. Christmas can feel like a deadline at the end of the year, but it's actually a starting line that kicks off the year-round story of God’s generosity. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving—and so should we.

For the story is open, and we're playing a part. Just as Jesus makes the Father visible, so we make Jesus visible. Specifically, we reveal God by giving ourselves for others, just as God gives himself continually. We can’t have it both ways—enjoying God's gifts while also safeguarding our time, attention, love, and possessions. Why should we even want to? We have already been given everything—the life of God himself! As “we live off his generous bounty,” the risks of love and sacrifice are transformed into the only way to live, because we are learning from Jesus.

This is what it means to be the Church, the Body of Christ which is broken and offered up for the life of the world. Jesus, the “one-of-a-kind God-Expression” is communicated through the Church’s life and work—who we are and what we do together all year long. Stay close to the story by participating in the kind of life-giving works of love that God does among us. Stay close to “the very heart of the Father” by continuing to imitate his generosity and grace. Stay close to Jesus by risking and sacrificing yourself as he did.

So if you’re looking in the mirror as the new year approaches, try tweaking your questions and resolutions a bit: How can I be a “God-Expression?” What specific ways can I share God’s generosity and give myself to others this year? How can I participate in God’s story and invite others to do the same?

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Who Is My Neighbor?

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC

God Stories (Kayleigh Anderson and Connor Kennedy)

Kayleigh and Connor answer three questions: Why Jesus? Why the Church? Why this Church?

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Love Your Neighbor (John 1:16-18)

About the Authors

Kayleigh is a freshman at Evangel University, a member of Calvary UMC, and draws the most incredible tech loft cartoons.
Connor is a freshman at Iowa State University and a member of Calvary UMC.

Deeper Dive Podcast (John 1:16-18)

Randy, Debbie, and Isaac discuss what John might have meant by "no one has seen God, but Jesus has made him known." We talk about the concept of "seeing" God in the Old and New Testaments and how we might "see" God today.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: God Stories (Kayleigh Anderson and Connor Kennedy)

About the Authors

Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us to Pray (John 1:16-18)

After the wait of Advent, the days of Christmas are for celebration and gratitude, for “exuberant giving and receiving." All the built up anticipation finally breaks forth as we step out of the dark night into the daylight of Christ. With the light shining, we no longer live under the power of our uncertainties and insecurities. For Christ has made things certain and secure, “plain as day." Though shadows still creep into our vision of the world, the ultimate horizon is illuminated with hope.

Our tendency during this couple of weeks is to either collapse from exhaustion or hastily begin hectic preparation for whatever is next—either way missing the fullness of the moment that Christ comes to us. This is a short season to simply enjoy the peace that is promised and provided by Jesus. Especially as a new year approaches, what shadows of fear and doubt still spread into your mind and heart? How do we let the light of Christ cast them out?

Set aside time today for silence to enjoy his peace. Close your eyes and imagine a pure, overwhelming light that fills your view. Let all your thoughts and feelings wash away into it. Whatever worries and preoccupations come to mind in the stillness, simply release them. Don’t entertain or follow these thoughts or even directly focus on them; just gently bring your attention back to the light. Even if the thoughts and feelings are pleasant, don’t cling to them. Christ’s presence exists within us at a level deeper than all our thoughts and feelings. Repeat a simple word (“light” or “grace”) to keep your attention resting only on the light of Christ. The only purpose of this time of prayer is to rest with him near the heart of the Father

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Deeper Dive Podcast (John 1:16-18)

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (John 1:16-18)

This week we'll be exploring John 1:16-18.  

We all live off his generous bounty,
        gift after gift after gift.
    We got the basics from Moses,
        and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
    This endless knowing and understanding—
        all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
    No one has ever seen God,
        not so much as a glimpse.
    This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
        who exists at the very heart of the Father,
        has made him plain as day.

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: 'Teach Us to Pray' through John 1:16-18. 

A Light to My Path (John 1:16-18)

In worship tomorrow we will focus on John 1:16-18.

We all live off his generous bounty,
        gift after gift after gift.
    We got the basics from Moses,
        and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
    This endless knowing and understanding—
        all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
    No one has ever seen God,
        not so much as a glimpse.
    This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
        who exists at the very heart of the Father,
        has made him plain as day.
Questions for reflection:
  • How has Jesus made God known?
  • What did He say about God?
  • How did He find these things out?

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Sunday Worship (John 1:16-18)

About the Author

Randy Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Who Is My Neighbor (Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education)

In the spirit of giving and service, the Calvary Senior High youth and their leaders made a significant impact on the students and families at Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education. Sarah E. Raymond School services at-risk and special needs children ranging from 3-5 years of age in Bloomington District 87.  

On Wednesday, December 14th, the Sr. High youth and their leaders took on two major projects at Sarah E. Raymond. First, the group wrapped 150 Christmas presents that will be opened by the children on “Santa Day” at the school. The gifts were provided by the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots program, and varied from baby dolls to farm sets. The youth group had fun wrapping the toys, as well as keeping an inventory to assure that there would be enough boy and girl toys for each child at the school.  

In addition to wrapping presents, the youth group prepared about 100 food bags. The bags will be sent home with the students on their busses to provide nutritious snacks for the preschoolers and their families to have after school hours. Sarah E. Raymond is a member of the Midwest Food Bank’s “Backpack Program.” This amazing program provides food each month for schools throughout McLean County and beyond. Food items vary month to month, but usually include items such as pasta, fruit, and cereal. Good nutrition is critical to good health and success at school, and the Backpack Program has made a significant difference for the students and their families. Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education was very grateful to have the many hands of our youth group to sort, tear apart/recycle food boxes, and fill bags for their students! 

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: A Light to My Path (John 1:16-18)

About the Author

Danel J. Behrends Harr is the Principal at Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education and a member of Calvary UMC.

Love Your Neighbor (John 1:14-17)

Jesus comes not to abolish the law but to fulfill it and make it possible for us to live like him. Jesus’ own summary of “the basics” is this: love God and love your neighbor. In order to live in this way we must continually remember that “we all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.” This means our forgiveness, kindness, generosity, and patience is not self-generated or self-sustaining.

The true source of our serving is not our own strength but the Spirit’s infinite supply of grace.

We tap into this grace by giving thanks. Gratitude begets generosity in a dance of “exuberant giving and receiving.” We realize Christ's gift in our own life and overflow with the desire to share what we have been given—life with God.

Law alone is no longer the reason we serve others. In fact, the law shows us that we can’t do it on our own. Our love is not a strict obligation but a spontaneous response to the gift we have already been given. When we love our neighbor just because “we should,” we will run out of steam eventually. When we love our neighbor in response to God’s loving us, we are relying not on our own love but God’s, which is never exhausted. While we withhold and only have so much to offer, our God is "generous inside and out,” and he uses us to share that generosity with others. We ourselves become his vessels of grace, vehicles of his presence and peace.

Our human love is restricted and inconsistent—only a dim reflection of divine love. But as a reflection, it still shines the light of God’s perfect love, even if imperfectly. In this light, our own weakness and weariness change from excuses and obstacles into reasons to love one another. I am just as helpless and hurting as my neighbor, and God has given me life through the grace of Jesus Christ. So what stops me from sharing that grace?

All we have to offer is ourselves, broken but beloved by God. Like John, we point out the source of life—the One who loved us first. As we remember his arrival among us, let’s give thanks for his limitless grace and seek to share it wherever we can. When we do, we make the unseen God “plain as day."

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Who Is My Neighbor? (Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education)

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC.

Deeper Dive Podcast (John 1:14-17)

This week Debbie, Randy, and Isaac discuss the incarnation of Jesus and how that has been talked about since the beginning of the church 2,000 years ago. Is jesus God, human, or something inbetween? This one ran a little long (as you might expect) at roughly 25 minutes. The office was a little cold today, so our apologies for the space heater background noise. 
We mention both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed, here is a link to both side by side.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: God Stories (Darren Plattner on SFGs)

About the Authors

Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us to Pray (John 1:14-17)

The Son reveals the Father. Jesus repeats this message about himself throughout John’s gospel: "If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7). God is neither absent nor abstract; he clearly communicates himself in the tangible presence of a particular person—Jesus. The Light that shines in the darkness is not a vague idea but the actual life of Jesus who “moved into the neighborhood."

Nevertheless, we still find ourselves in times of confusion and struggle praying for God reveal himself. We sound like Phillip immediately responding to Jesus’ words: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied” (John 14:8). But Jesus simply repeats what John says from the beginning of the book: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” (John 14:10). We plead to know God’s way and will for our life as if it is an obscure secret. Jesus responds: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

Seeing, knowing, loving, and following God—“this endless knowing and understanding”—begins with meditation on the life of Jesus, "the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). The flesh-and-bones reality of his life must sink into our imagination. Whether we simply want to know God more or we are seeking a specific answer in prayer, we start with the Gospels. In the Gospels, we return to the concrete reality of “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life” (1 John 1:1).  In Jesus, the mysteries of God are translated into our language. In his life, we learn how to live. Let the flesh-and-bones reality of God’s arrival sink into your imagination by reflecting on John 1:14.

"The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish."

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Deeper Dive Podcast (John 1:14-17)

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (John 1:14-17)

The week we'll be exploring John 1:14-17

14 The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.
15 John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
16-18 We all live off his generous bounty,
        gift after gift after gift.
    We got the basics from Moses,
        and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
    This endless knowing and understanding—
        all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
    No one has ever seen God,
        not so much as a glimpse.
    This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
        who exists at the very heart of the Father,
        has made him plain as day.

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: 'Teach Us to Pray' through John 1:14-17. 

A Light to My Path (John 1:14-17)

14 The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.
15 John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
16-18 We all live off his generous bounty,
        gift after gift after gift.
    We got the basics from Moses,
        and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
    This endless knowing and understanding—
        all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
    No one has ever seen God,
        not so much as a glimpse.
    This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
        who exists at the very heart of the Father,
        has made him plain as day.

What comes to your mind when you think of God loving us enough to come to our realm in human form?

We haven't lived in the First Century in which Jesus walked the earth.  Was it only that generation who 'saw the glory' with their own eyes?  How can we see the glory of God through Jesus even when he's not physically walking around our town?

How is your celebration of Christmas impacted by the remembrance of Jesus 'moving into our neighborhood'?

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Sunday Worship (John 1:14-17)

About the Author

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Who Is My Neighbor? (Habitat for Humanity)

Is it winter yet?  Brrrrrr!!!!  Aren’t you glad that you have a nice warm place in which to live?  As a part of Calvary United Methodist Church, you’ve also given Katie Lane and her daughter, Elena, a warm place to call home!  Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we had the privilege of donating one quarter of the cost of that house ($10,000) as well as 280 hours of volunteer ministry from our congregation.  Calvary provided volunteers one Saturday morning a month from May through November and there was no shortage of people willing to help.

Larry Oleson, one of Calvary’s volunteers is a contractor by profession.  “It was nice to be able to use my skills and abilities to help someone else in this way.  It was also fun to teach other volunteers how to do particular things and watch the smiles on their faces as they completed different parts of the project.  We had fun working together and alongside Katie and Elena.  Katie was so appreciative of our help and even prayed for me when I was unable to help because of an unrelated injury.”

Part of Habitat’s philosophy is that the homeowner must also work on their home in order to qualify for the build.  As a single mom, Katie had to get special permission from her job at McDonald’s to be off on Saturdays to work on her house…..and that permission was granted.  In fact, her boss was at both the groundbreaking for the house as well as the dedication when it was finished.  We hear so much about what is wrong with our world, it’s nice to hear the good stories about people helping each other.

We put aside $5,000 from the outreach budget in 2015, and added another $5,000 out of the 2016 outreach budget in order to get to that $10,000 sponsorship point.  At that level, we are guaranteed to be able to work one Saturday a month (and our people love to be hands on in these builds!).  Because of your generosity, in 2017, we hope to be able to sponsor at least one quarter of a house rather than having to wait until 2018 to come up with the full $10,000.  

As I sit in my warm home, I think about Katie and Elena and I smile.  What a blessing that we get to be a part of their sharing this first Christmas in their own home.  Thank you for making this happen!

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: A Light to My Path (John 1:14-17)

About the Author

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Love Your Neighbor (John 1:9-13)

The Incarnation is the basis of the infinite worth of every human person. In God’s Son we are all sons and daughters. His birth into the world means new birth for all. He becomes like us to make us like him. God unites himself to all humanity, making us holy and whole.

Therefore, becoming children of God means we also treat others as children of God. This is the true reason why Advent and Christmas ought to be seasons of generosity and kindness: because we remember the great mystery that the God has become one of us, transforming what it means to be human. We see Christ himself in everyone.

Paul puts it like this:

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:16–19). 

“From a human point of view” means defining others (and ourselves) by faults and limitations, status in society, race or gender, opinions and behaviors, what they can or cannot do for me. But Christ bulldozes these distinctions to clear the ground for new creation. Not only that—he has made us the stewards and laborers of the field. We practice this work of reconciliation by overcoming these divisive ways and regarding everyone as “their true selves, their child-of-God selves,” thereby welcoming them into the truth of who they are in Christ.

Spend time meditating on the mystery that God himself becomes a man. Let that be a source of motivation today to practice reconciliation today. How will treat the next person you see as if he/she were Christ himself?

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Who Is My Neighbor?

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC

Deeper Dive Podcast (John 1:9-13)

This week Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk about what first century Israel expected in a Messiah, what we expect in a Messiah, and how we often miss the Jesus we're looking for.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Laura Dudgeon shares her God Story

About the Authors

Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us To Pray (John 1:9-13)

Imagine the irony: the Giver of life becomes anonymous to his own people. His image is imprinted on our very being, yet we don’t know or want him. How is this possible that "the world didn’t even notice” him? 

In everyday life, our attention is rarely drawn directly to light itself. Normally, our focus is on the things that light illuminates. We take for granted the background force that makes our vision possible in the first place. Similarly, God so saturates our life that we take him for granted, forgetting the One who makes all life possible in the first place. If we assume we already know what to expect from him, we are liable to miss it when he actually shows up.

So how do we cast off assumptions and distractions to live alert to God and awake to what he is doing? In short: prayer. Christians have long seen this alertness as a spiritual discipline. The first step in prayer is simply paying attention.

“Nothing is more essential to prayer than attentiveness” (Evagrius, 4th century).

God is always present and active; the trick is to pay attention. This is part of what it means to “pray without ceasing” (as Paul instructs in 1 Thessalonians 5:17)—to strive to live awake to God, realizing our "true self” in his presence. If fact, Paul ties this prayerful alertness to being a child of God:

"But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day [of the Lord’s arrival] to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6). 

Today, spend 10 minutes simply being attentive to God without any agenda. Slowly repeat this prayer: “Father, open my eyes to your light.” Whatever else surfaces in your mind and heart, let it go. Try doing this everyday. Don’t focus on how the time of prayer feels. Instead, watch for how it affects the way you perceive and respond to everything else throughout the rest of your day. Awareness of God (like light) tends to make us more aware of everything else.

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

Tomorrow on the Daily Connection: Deeper Dive Podcast on John 1:9-13

About the Author

Nick Chambers is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Calvary UMC