“I Love It When A Plan Comes Together”

“Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready.  Make preparations there.” Mark 14:13-15

I like plans.  Nearly every day I have a plan for what I will do that day.  Sometimes my plan involves a lot of tasks, probably more than any human being could conceivable get accomplished in one 24-hour period.  Other days, I have plans to do absolutely nothing.  (Sara will ask me what I have planned today and I’ll say, “nothing.”  She’ll start suggesting things we could do and I’ll stop her.  “No,” I say, “I have plans, to do nothing.”) 

My plans often revolve around tasks that need to be accomplished:  work that needs to be completed, what I’d like to have for dinner, what I am going to wear that day, what I look forward to watching on television that evening (usually some sort of sporting event) or even what time I plan on going to bed.  As long as there’s a plan, I’m happy.  As “Hannibal” used to say on The A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

The problem occurs when things don’t go as I have planned—when, despite all my best efforts, life gets in the way of what I originally intended to do. The phone rings, and suddenly, priorities change. An urgent need arises, one of the kids get sick, the check engine light comes on, the weather changes, the lawnmower blows up, etc.… All of a sudden, the plan gets thrown out the window. 

Have you ever looked at how Jesus planned things?  One of the verses I love to read is when Jesus tells the disciples how to prepare the Passover meal.  They want to know all the details, to plan it out and get it done.  And Jesus’ response to them is, in my opinion, not at all what they were expecting.  Instead of telling them to go make a reservation at a fancy restaurant, he tells them to follow someone carrying a jar of water.  Once they follow the person to a house, they are to go inside and ask the owner where the Teacher can prepare his meal.  This is planning as only Jesus would do it.  Every detail is taken care of, but not in a way any of us would expect.  This plan is more about relationships and people than tasks.  The disciples must pay attention to people on the street.  They must look at all these strangers around them in order to find this mysterious person carrying a jar of water.  And once they find him, they must pay attention to where he goes and who he interacts with.  To Jesus, people are more important than tasks.

I think this is the lesson Jesus is teaching me about my to-do lists.  My lists rarely include things like talk to a stranger, make a new friend, watch the kids play, ask the waiter or cashier how I can pray for them, or even show compassion to someone in need.  My lists involve tasks.  God’s plans are about people, relationships and love. 

I invite you this week, as you go about accomplishing your list of tasks, to take some time to discover what God might have on his list for you to do. 

It is, as always, an honor to be your pastor and be in ministry alongside you to an amazing God!

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday we conclude our message series “Active Faith.”  This week our message is titled “Monitor Your Progress.”  Our scripture reading for Sunday comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verses 9-14.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We will begin our service with the song Love God, Love People by Danny Gokey.  Our hymns for Sunday include: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and Just A Closer Walk With Thee.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is Love Like Jesus, by the Rhett Walker Band. 

COVID-19 Updates

We encourage you to remain vigilant in the practices of keeping not just ourselves, but those around us safe by wearing masks, keeping a safe distance from others and sanitizing or washing your hands as often as appropriate. 

Remember, these practices are a way we show our love to our neighbor.  Additionally, if anyone who normally attends the 10:20 service would be willing to come to the 8:00 service, it would help us provide more room for new folks at the 10:20 service.  (Also, if you are worried at all about being able to socially distance at the 10:20 service, there is plenty of room to do at the 8:00 service.)

As the COVID-19 virus continues its presence in our community, we know that many of you are still not ready to come to worship. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:20 worship service on our Facebook page and the message on our website.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

Announcements

Annual Church Conference – Our annual Church Charge Conference will be held Saturday, October 17 at 10:00 am.  This year this meeting will take place via Zoom, and we will have a “Zoom Room” set up in the Church Lounge.  Everyone is invited to join us for this time of business and learning.

Hayride and Bonfire – It is officially Fall!  Bring your families to the Haller’s on Saturday, October 24th for a hayride, bonfire and other fall activities.  The party starts at 5:00.  Hot dogs and s’mores provided by the education committee.  Please bring a side dish to share! 

All Saints Remembrance and Celebration November 1 – We will remember our church members and family who have entered the Church Triumphant over the last year as part of our observation of All Saints Day on November 1.  The names we currently have included on the list of those to honor this year are: Alta Chipley, Marilyn Cochran, Betty Humphreys, June Marshall, Martha Schrader, William Stuart, and Mary Sue Vanderhoof.  If there are other family members to include in our remembrance, please send their name and a photo to Pastor Chris or the Church Office. 

Help Wanted – After many years of service, Mark Lieberman, is stepping away from the position overseeing our custodial and maintenance efforts.  We thank Mark for his many years of faithful service to our congregation. 

If you know of anyone who might be interested in taking over this job please let Rob Gordon or Pastor Chris know.  The job description and salary are available upon request.  We are hoping to get this position filled by the end of the month.  Please help us spread the word. 

Roll Up Your Sleeves – With flu season beginning and COVID hanging around, blood and platelet donations continue to be essential to hospital patients.  Donors are needed to come together to help others in this time of need.  We will be hosting a blood drive through the American Red Cross Tuesday, December 1, from 2 – 6 pm in our Fellowship Hall.  Stay tuned for more information about this but please help spread the word.  If you would like to register to donate, please visit the online scheduler (you will have to search by our zip code – 65233).   We are hoping for at least 20-25 donors at this event. 

Events this week:

Saturday, October 17: Charge Conference, 10:00 am, Church Lounge

“Active Faith” small group, 4 pm, McGruder’s Home

Sunday, October 18: Youth Group @ Jackson’s home, 4 pm

“Active Faith” small group, 7 pm, Zoom

Monday, October 19: TOPS, 9:30 am

Tuesday, October 20: “Active Faith” small group, 9 am, Church Lounge

Staff Parish Relations Committee Meeting, 6 pm, Zoom

Wednesday, October 21: Bible Study, 9:00 am, Church Lounge

“Active Faith” small group, Noon, Maggie’s

“Active Faith” small group, 5:40 pm, Foundations Classroom

“Active Faith” small group, 7pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, October 24: “Active Faith” small group, 4 pm, McGruder’s Home

Hayride and Bonfire @ Haller’s Farm, 5 pm

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“You have one business on earth – to save souls.” ― John Wesley