Power of One

Yesterday we kicked off our Stewardship Campaign with our new worship series "Power of One". We looked at "One Spirit" from John 17:20-23, which is the focus verse for our worship series.

"My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

We had a great worship time together and as we gathered together around the Table on Sunday I know I felt as if we were One Spirit -- The Power of One.

Last Tuesday, in preparation for our Power of One Campaign, we gathered all the church leaders (those who could make it) for a time of information, inspiration and challenge. I shared with this group the scripture from Deuteronomy where Moses challenges his people who are getting ready to go into the promised land with Joshua as there leader (in a couple more chapters Moses will die) from chapter 31. I mentioned that Moses doesn't take this opportunity to rehash the hardships, the loses, the struggles, the failings on the part of the people and himself, but concentrates on what the future holds, "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." (31:6-The Message)

Moses' charge to his people reminds me of Fajitas. If you've ever been to a restaurant that serves fajitas, you know they are supposed to come to the table sizzling. The marinated meat, the onions, the peppers, the oil, all combine to make a fajita, but if it isn't sizzling ... well, it's not a fajita most people are going to want to eat. Moses knows the exciting things God has planned for his people. They've got all the ingredients. He wants them to start sizzling.

As we move into our Power of One Worship Series and Campaign, as we move into the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, we've got a lot to celebrate as a church -- First Farragut:

• We project an increase in membership for the first time in 4 years


• We project an increase in worship attendance for the first time in 5 years


• On any given Sunday 35% of our people in worship are under the age of 18


• 60 youth and adult counselors returned from their Spiritual Life Retreat on Sunday. 60!


• We have a great location on the main road in a growing section of West Farragut


• We have a heart for mission giving and are having a deep impact in a number of outreach areas.


• We have a great facility


• We have great, talented, and dedicated leaders and church staff

These and many more make up the ingredients of a fantastic fajita. We've got the oil (the Holy Spirit) coating and holding it all together. Now, with the Power of One -- let's light the flame and sizzle!

Bit: I'm on a diet, but I may have to run to Estelita's for lunch.

About That Boat

Yes, there is a "John Boat" in our worship center at First Farragut. And no, I don't know why they call it a "John Boat". All I know is that I asked if anyone had a boat that we could put in the worship center and Voila, there is was [Bayou VBS is over and I'm still speaking French!]. So here's the reason for the boat, as I wrote in my July Newsletter Article.

June kicked off our “Get on the Boat: Adventures with Jesus” worship series. It continues through JULY! So far we’ve looked at what it means to take an adventure with Jesus – what we can expect when we “Get on the Boat” with Jesus. First we learned that being on a boat with someone naturally leads to a growing relationship with that person. The same is true with Jesus. Jesus wants to spend some quality time with us and wants us to have a growing relationship with Him. But, we also learned that getting on the boat with Jesus is a busy and wearisome experience. Even when we make plans, sometimes those plans are interrupted. Jesus showed us how to handle interruptions with grace and compassion. We closed out June with a merging of our “Get on the Boat” theme and our Vacation Bible School’s theme of “Crocodile Dock: Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light”. Our children led both of our worship services in the 5 VBS promises: God is with us; God is powerful, God does what He says He’ll do; God gives us life; and, God Cares for us. We discovered what happened to the disciples when they got in a boat without Jesus.

In July we’ll look at how getting on the boat with Jesus is not always as easy as it looks, using the disciples own struggle with understanding Jesus as our example. We’ll also look at how getting on the boat with Jesus means risk, but that it also means healing change. To close out our series we’ll take a look at what happens after we’ve been boating with Jesus.

The challenge this summer is to make sure you carve out some time in your busy summer schedules to take a spiritual adventure with Jesus and to spend some quality time with Him. An adventure with Jesus is something you won’t soon forget!

BIT: So, if you're reading this and your church doesn't have a boat in it's worship center (aka Sanctuary), then what are you waiting for? Get on the Boat. I promise you'll get a fantastic reaction when you bring it up at your next church council meeting.

A Boat Load of Underwear (Literally)!

The VBS mission this year was for the kids to fill the boat that is in our worship center (not many churches have a boat in their worship center -- more on that later) with underwear and socks for children. One of the things we are always short on in our Wesley's Attic Clothing Ministry (which is located in the basement -- more on that later) is underwear and socks. We do not take used underwear and socks, so we have to purchase these items.

BIT: This boat load of socks and underwear in our worship center will make a big splash (aka "deep impact") in Service to our community. THANK YOU VBS!

BITTER: That's what I'll be if I don't see you at VBS worship on Sunday!

Four of Five

Today we have finished our fourth day of VBS. There was some rockin' the dock (Crocodile Dock, that is)! Only one more day and then our worship spectacular on Sunday. Both worship services will be led by our children and we'll be singing VBS songs!

BIT: Yesterday I was Mary Lin (no, she is not a Biblical Character [a character, yes, just not Biblical {even though she knows her Bible, because she is a Sunday School teacher}]) I wanted to avoid confusion with being Pharaoh on Tuesday -- a Biblical Character. Even though I played Pharaoh on Tuesday, some of the kids are still booing me on Thursday. Move on already. Oh, yes, I was Mary ... Mary works in the tech loft and in honor of doing hardly anything, because Matt Benson is incredible with tech, I compiled a video (yes, you may oh and ah) of some of my favorite pictures so far (they all wouldn't fit). Enjoy.

Crossroads

I have been known to change topics in mid-conversation, so why not mid-VBS. I was reading Mark's thank you in this weeks "By the Way" [this is our "green" version of a weekly newsletter sent out weekly via email -- how environmentally friendly is that! [not to mention we ran out of money to send out the regular newsletter] and I was moved at how much our youth accomplished on their mission trip. [If you haven't signed up for "By the Way" go to ffumc.org and sign up at the top of our web page].

So, I interrupt our regularly scheduled blog on the conspiracies of First Farragut's VBS "Crocodile Dock". [and some have mentioned that the blogs are far from regular, but I note that this is 3 in one week, which surpasses the one who plays golf instead of blogging]

So, don't miss the "By the Way" on Friday and check out what "the one who plays golf" says about the trip by clicking Mark Aronowitz in my blog list.

BIT: I'm so glad I'm the pastor of a church with such a serious, intensive on the task at hand, don't waist time with frivolity, group of youth and youth counselors.

Groundhog Day!

Yes, I know it is way past February and Groundhog Day is long gone. It just seemed like Groundhog Day, the movie. Yes, I played the Pharaoh from the Exodus story today in VBS, and to say that it got a little repetitious would be an understatement. For each plague, I would come out of the robe room (dressed more like a Greek god than an Egyptian Pharaoh -- but I don't think we were going for cultural relevance). I would sit on my aluminum foil "throne" the crowd of VBSers would yell, "Let My People Go." I would say "no". Then ... a plague would come and I would run back into the robe room. Then repeat. The only changes each time was that the plague would change (and whatever they threw at me, literally) and I would make my "no" more and more emphatic.

So ... it went sort of like this ... Out ... Let my people go! No! Water to Blood and then Dead Fish (thrown at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! No No! Frogs (kids jumping at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! No! No Way! Gnats (kids screeching at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! Let me spell it for you N - O! ... Flies (I did get a fly swatter to swat at the buzzing kids) ... Back. [Don't you dare stop reading ... I had to do the whole thing 4 times! ... Read on] Out ... Let my people go! Absolutely Not! ... Dead Livestock (this one was quite humorous with the kids acting out dying cows) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! Read my Lips, "No One is Leaving!" ... Boils (kids put red circle dots all over me) ... Out. Back ... Let my people go! ... What part of "no" are you missing? You are going nowhere!" ... Locust (again with bugs coming at me) ... Back. Out ... Let my people go! I'm talking never, never, never, never,never, ever, ever ever. (period) ... Darkness (kids put a pillow case over my head) ... Back. [I hope I didn't leave one out!]

Now do it 3 more times for 3 more groups. And, while I make it sound gruelling here. It turned out to be pretty fun. And, I think the kids liked it too. Where else but Vacation Bible School do you get to throw paper wads at your pastor (oh, I forgot about the hail plague!).

And, the crocodile showed up today (I was wondering if we were going to have a "Crocodile Dock" without a crocodile). He displayed today's theme, "God is Powerful" [the first day was the firefly for "God is with us"]. Of course the crocodile's name was Jacques le Croc, which I'm going to assume is French.

All I know is that we are having a blast with this French gator, the Greek god Pharaoh caught in a continual Groundhog day, and the fantastic life lessons we are learning about God's love and power.

BIT: My conspiracy theory was correct that I shared yesterday. (Remember that I was not in on the planning and felt like I got a leftover part). After I was in costume as the Pharaoh, the Children's Director, Jill-Marie (sounds French doesn't it?) came to me and told me that she needed my help at the closing time, the "firefly finale". I kid you not. She told me she wanted the kids to stuff balloons up my robe and then take a pin and pop them to show that "God is Powerful". I told her I did not believe that any curriculum person in their right mind would write down such a scenario. And, lo and behold, there it is was in the leader's guide. What kind of crazy is that? It's crazy for Jesus, I tell you!

It's On!

Yes, the 2009 VBS has officially kicked off @ First Farragut! It has something to do with Crocodiles and Jesus. I know the kids are having lots of fun today singing and going to different rooms (and I've not seen a Crocodile, yet). The theme is "Where fearless kids shine God's light." I have to be Pharaoh tomorrow -- something about the kids throwing plagues at me. I really need to get in on the planning for next year. Something tells me that I got the leftover part.

BIT: This is my last first at First Farragut. After this week I will have been at First Farragut one year. I'm sure we'll have a lot more "firsts", but we will all have them together. Here's to firsts at First Farragut (and to seconds)!