Calvary's Lexi Showalter talks about her Workcamp 2017 experience. See other stories at http://link.connectwithcalvary.org/workcampstories
Deeper Dive Podcast (Stirring the Fire - Week 3)
Randy, Debbie, and Isaac continue to talk about current events in light of the Christian faith.
Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.
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 (Romans 12.10-16)
The practice of centering prayer has been a long tradition in Christianity. Center prayer takes a short phrase and makes it a focal point of the prayer experience. It's an easy "pin in the map" to return to when distraction comes. It provides opportunities for multiple layers of insight and meaning. As you pray today, use this phrase from Romans in a centering prayer way.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn."
Quickly memorize the phrase or write it down. Then chew on it for 5 minutes or so. If you are distracted, simply return to the phrase and continue. Look for new layers of meaning and insight as you steep in the phrase.
About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC
Sunday Worship (Romans 12:10-16)
This week we'll be exploring Romans 12:10-16:
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here.
A Light to My Path (Romans 12:10-16)
Our text for the coming week is Romans 12:10-16:
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Question for Reflection:
What does it look like in your life to "bless those who persecute you"?
Who Is My Neighbor (5 & 2 Outreach)
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” …When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” ~John 9:9,12-14
On Wednesday night, Aug. 30th, a group of 30 high school youth and adult chaperones gathered in Calvary’s parking lot. These youth split into groups, pooled their own money together, and began to pray about how God might use the money, and themselves, to build His Kingdom in our community that night. We call this ministry event 5 & 2 Outreach. John’s gospel records that it was the faith of a boy who was willing to give what he had to Jesus, not letting the seemingly impossible situation limit his faith. In the same way, in the face of such great need in our community, our youth gave what they had to Jesus and trusted that He would do a miracle.
Here is a list of some of the ways the youth impacted our community on the 30th:
- Paid for multiple meals for families at restaurants.
- Paid for people's gas.
- Bought flowers to take into Advocate Bromenn hospital and Evergreen nursing home where they spent their time getting to know the residents.
- Found out the needs of the local homeless shelter, and purchased those items for them.
- Contacted a few single moms from our church asked them if they had any grocery needs and supplied them (milk, bread, eggs, toilet paper, cereal, diapers, and more).
- Payed-it-forward at drive-thrus.
Anyone can do this type of outreach and have a temporary impact in our world. Our goal, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, was to be the hands and feet of Jesus so that our money and presence might have an eternal impact in our community. Over the few years that the youth have done this they have helped at least two people give their hearts and lives to Jesus!
About the Author
Michael Pitzer is the Director of Senior High Ministries at Calvary UMC
Love Your Neighbor (Be the Content - World Vision Experience)
Don't miss the opportunity to get closer to our neighbors across the world and love them more deeply through a unique opportunity this week at Calvary. More info here.
God Stories (Sydney Beggs on Workcamp)
Sydney shares her experience on Workcamp 2017. Watch other Workcamp 2017 stories at http://link.connectwithcalvary.org/workcampstories
Deeper Dive Podcast (Romans 12.9-16)
Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk about racism, violence, and fear in relationship to how we live and love one another. The article Randy referenced can be found here.
Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.
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 (Romans 12.9-16)
In the middle of this week's text, the Apostle Paul urges us to:
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
Prayer plays an important role in shaping our approach to those who would potentially do us harm. Jesus reminds us (in Matthew 5.44) to pray for those who persecute us. When we contemplate (think deeply about) our enemies from a position of blessing (and not cursing) in prayer; our minds, hearts, wills, and imaginations begin to encounter these enemies differently outside of prayer. When we pray regularly, prayer becomes a major influencer in the way our hearts, minds, wills, and imaginations are shaped. We can change our attitudes toward our enemies. Prayer is a pathway to change, but it coaxes out change slowly and steadily over time. If you don't often pray for your enemies, begin to incorporate your enemies into your times of prayer and begin to see the change in your own heart, mind, will, and imagination as a result.
About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC
Sunday Worship (Romans 12.9-16 and 1 John 4.19-21)
This week we'll be exploring Romans 12.9-16 and 1 John 4.19-21.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
____
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here.
A Light to My Path (Romans 12.9-16 and 1 John 4.19-21)
Our text for the coming week is Romans 12.9-16 and 1 John 4.19-21:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
____
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Question for Reflection:
Is it easier or harder for you to love the "seen" or the "unseen." Why?
Who Is My Neighbor? (UMCOR Relief)
At the writing of this article, Hurricane Irma, followed by the threat of Hurricane Jose is hitting the Caribbean hard. We do not yet have information on how we as the United Methodist Church are responding, but you can be assured.....we will be there as soon as the hurricane has gone....if not before.
The following, in reverse date order, is the information from our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) website describing the ways in which you, people of the United Methodist Church, have and are responding to the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Wednesday, August 30
In the Rio Texas Annual Conference, Early Response Teams are at work. For teams interested in supporting the relief efforts there, please visit the conference webpage https://riotexas.org/harvey. Remember that relief teams come in with training and an invitation.
About 20 churches in the Texas Annual Conference are serving as shelters. It is too soon for Early Response Teams, though cleaning and hygiene kits are being distributed. More kits will be needed. Please go to http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies for more information about preparing kits.
In the Central Texas Conference, one ER Team will deploy this weekend; two more next week. As kits are distributed, more are needed. For those in the conference, please contact Sheryl Crumrine for more information sheryl@ctcumc.org.
The people of the Louisiana Conference, already responding to massive flooding in 2016, are gearing up for Harvey’s anticipated arrival. They are building kits, putting ER Teams on alert, and enacting disaster plans and shelter preparation.
Tuesday, August 29
Severe flooding on interstate highways and roads caused UMCOR Sager Brown delivery of cleaning kits to be re-routed to Beaumont, Texas.
UMCOR Sager Brown Depot attempted a delivery of 1,000 cleaning kits to Conroe, Texas to affiliate warehouse, the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Mission Center.
Monday, August 28
UMCOR disaster recovery grants for Hurricane Harvey were issued to Texas Annual Conference and the Rio Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church.
UMCOR Sager Brown prepared a load of 1,000 cleaning kits to be distributed in Texas.
Friday, August 25
In preparation for Hurricane Harvey, UMCOR contacted Conference Disaster Response Coordinators at the Texas Annual Conference, the Rio Texas Annual Conference, and the Louisiana Annual Conference.
Friends, when we ask, Who Is My Neighbor, our hearts are heavy for all of our neighbors whose lives have already been taken, devastated, or traumatized, and for all of those in the paths of the next storms. Can you imagine just waiting.....waiting for the storms to hit, waiting for the help to come, waiting for the recovery efforts to begin. And these are the best case scenarios......some are waiting to bury their dead.
Let us be in prayer for our neighbors. Let us do what we can to reach out. Remember that when we give to hurricane relief through UMCOR, 100% of the proceeds go to the needs of the victims: administrative costs are covered through the weekly offerings of United Methodist Congregations around the world. We are also collecting materials for cleaning/flood buckets (link above).
Praise God for the opportunity to pray for and otherwise support our brothers and sisters in need.
Love Your Neighbor (Grant Gourley on Workcamp)
Grant talks about how he and other students and adults from Calvary loved their neighbors this summer in Crossville, TN.
Deeper Dive Podcast (Romans 12.9-13)
Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk about love and how sincerity of heart works in the life of people.
Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.
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
God Stories (Syria’s Children - Fleeing Violence)
Learn more about what’s happening and how you can help by walking through the World Vision Experience at Calvary’s parking lot Sept 14-17. See times and more info at http://www/worldvisionexperience.org
Teach Us to Pray (Romans 12.9-13)
Paul’s description of sincere love in Romans 12:9-13 is full and robust:
- Hate evil
- Cling to good
- Be devoted to one another
- Honor each other above yourselves
- Be zealous and fervent in serving the Lord
- Be joyful in hope
- Patient in affliction
- Faithful in prayer
- Share with those in need
- Practice hospitality
Prayer is the ongoing practice of shaping us into the people God intends for us to be while simultaneously resting in the reality that we are loved and already have a place at God’s table. Prayer is the mysterious place where we are accepted without condition and then stirred to step into an ever growing and changing version of ourselves that God calls us to. As you pray today, know that this list of sincere love is not the gate to God (remaining shut until all boxes are checked), it’s the goal of God (the things we move toward as we encounter God in prayer).
___________
About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC
Sunday Worship (Romans 12.9-13)
This week we'll be exploring Romans 12.9-13.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here.
A Light to My Path (Romans 12.9-13)
Our text for the coming week is Romans 12.9-13:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Question for Reflection:
Paul lists several great things to aspire to in our walk with Jesus. Which of the above are easy for you, which are more difficult?
Who Is My Neighbor? (Interfaith Service)
So powerfully brought home was the image of my neighbor as not only persons who look differently than I, but also those who worship very differently. Several Calvary folks joined people of many different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds at First Christian Church in Bloomington this past Monday (August 28) at: Unity in the Community: An Interfaith Service of Lament and Hope. Prayer of lament were shared by pastors of different churches; a Jewish Peace Song was shared by a quartet from the Moses Montefiore Temple of Bloomington; an ecumenical choir sang about peace and unity; statements by faith leaders from several traditions were heard; a beautiful reflection was shared; and prayers of hope were offered.
Along with Christian denominations, leadership and participation in the service included those from the Islamic Center, the Hindu Temple, and the Jewish Temple....all of Bloomington-Normal. We stood together against bigotry of all kinds and celebrated the love that we can have for one another as we work together toward peace in our land.
The following letter was written prior to this event and published in The Pantagraph, signed by many Bloomington-Normal clergy (including Randy and Debbie):
"Spurred by our latest national tragedy in Charlottesville, we the undersigned faith leaders of Bloomington-Normal, representing our many traditions, abhor the loss of life, the dishonoring of the children of the Divine, the insults hurled and the wounds of history re-opened. Events such as these inflict injury which damages our minds, bodies and spirits: the totality of our humanity. At times such as these, the faiths which sustain us separately come together to assure us that love remains the most powerful force in human existence, allowing no room for hatred, bigotry, discrimination and violence.
“Hatred is the poison of the spirit. The resulting fear cuts us off from the holy, from goodness, beauty and ultimately, life. It is love that truly confronts the corruptions of racism, white supremacy, anti-Semitism and discrimination of all forms.
“As faith leaders, we unite in commitment to stand up and speak out in nonviolent ways for love and justice. We pray for the day when ‘all shall sit under their vine and fig tree, with none to make them afraid.’ (Micah 4:4)”
There is never an instance when racism is appropriate. There is never a situation in which discrimination is a Christian act. When we reach out to one another with a hand of love, we are recognizing the worth of that person. Now that’s what defines the ways in which we treat our neighbors. Will you join me in doing all that we can to live out Christ’s commandment to love one another…..with no exceptions?
About the Author
Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC