| Calendar |
< January, 2009 >
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| 28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
01 |
02 |
03 |
| 04 |
05 |
06 |
07 |
08 |
09 |
10 |
| 11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
| 18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
| 25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
|
|
| Welcome to the Crossroads District |
a word from our District Superintendent
From the District Superintendent
by The Rev. David M. Underwood
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
I write this in very difficult economic times. Congress is trying to figure out how to bail out financial institutions at risk. I’m troubled and we are all troubled by this I’m sure. I have been a pastor when times have been economically challenging before. There have been recessions and stagflations in previous years. And in each of those times I have noticed that the churches I served actually seemed to strengthen in the challenging economic times and my guess was always that faith overcame the fear. I have a different feeling this time though. It is as if the fear has seeped into the church. And fear is counterculture to the culture of faith…in my humble opinion.
There is an old Wesleyan Hymn begins, Gentle Jesus, meek and mild. I think that is a wonderful image of Jesus. In fact, I think this is a preferred image; this passive Jesus who just. And yet as I have been reading scripture, I am drawn to Matthew’s account of Jesus cleansing the Temple. It seems that he was not all meek or mild, but more likely is angry suffering a righteous indignation directed at the injustice he found right there in the Temple. It didn’t make the Temple leadership happy at all, because, well, that’s how they did things and that’s how the bills serer paid. Maybe I have oversimplified this, which of course is in my nature…but really what was the image of God projected in the buying and selling and business as usual. Jesus got angry because of that inappropriate construction of the image of God. In the long run, as we know how the story concludes, it didn’t really go well for Jesus. But as I read on I noticed something that I never noticed before, for whatever reason. Once he cleansed the Temple:
“The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.” Matt. 21:14
It struck me that the business as usual may actually be a barrier to the healing presence of Christ in our churches and maybe even in our lives. Perhaps the table to turn over is fear, replaced with an invitation of faith. How is it that I have this perception that finances are driving mission and ministry when mission and ministry should be driving finance? The image of God for me is in the mission and ministry.
Well, so much for my view of the paradox. I do think there is a challenge here. Maybe we could be Jesus’ eyes and feet and arms and voice to turn over those things that prevent others from coming to God. What would it mean to walk into a church, maybe even your church and look for those things that are preventing free access to God? It takes great risk and some righteous indignation I suppose, but for the figurative or literal blind and lame, it could mean everything.
Peace in Christ,
David
PS…Here are a couple more challenges.
Our District is currently without a Lay Leader. Of course I have asked some of the busiest and faithful on our district, but because they are so busy and faithful to other ministries they have not been able to accept my invitation. I’m going to try another approach. Maybe there is one of you or someone you know in the district that God is calling to this important ministry. I’m praying God will raise up the right person. Contact the District Office 315-635-4873.
Sharon Fulmer was our communications person. We still miss her very much and in so many ways she will never be replaced. The Crossroads District is looking for a communications person. If you have an interest, please contact the District Office 315-635-4873.
District Calendar
January 2009
1 - District Office Closed
5-7 - Tending The Fire
7 - City Churches Meeting, Rockefeller UMC (7:00 p.m.)
7 - Candidacy Mentor Training, Cicero UMC (9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
21 - District Council on Ministries Meeting, Liverpool First UMC (7:00 p.m.)
April 2009
22 - District Day (Crossroads District), Erwin First UMC
26 - Native American Ministries Sunday, Onondaga Nation UMC, Special Worship Celebration
Created on 02/04/2003 10:24 AM by install
Updated on 01/06/2009 10:26 AM by Kathy
|
|
|
|
| Weather |
|
| District Office |
17 W. Genesee St.
PO Box 505
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Phone: (315) 635-4873
FAX: (315) 635-5005
|
|
