In This Month's Issue:
DAILY MISSIONS
Four days at General Convention for an 11th grader
Boys State and other services recognized
RESOURCES
“E. J. Dionne on Liberty and Community”
“Using social media in your church”
FOR MEDITATION
MM SHORTS
Lay Leader briefing the new pastor: “ I want you to find bold and innovative ways to do everything exactly the same way it’s been done for 25 years.” – From www.glassbergen.com
Encouraging workers: “We have the spirit of fighters not as a destructive force but as a power of good.” – Horace Albright to National Park Service people, 1930's
From E. J. Dionne: “And then there is also a small ‘R’ republican tradition which sees self-government not about pursuing your own self-interest but about the joys and satisfactions and obligations of governing together in the common interest.”
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July-August 2012
Member Mission Newsletter #106
For empowering vacations
(Click here for a printable version)
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Hint for leaders: plan now for your next innovation in ministry in daily life
What will it be:
- prayers for one of the mission fields in the pastoral prayer / prayers of the people;
- in the mission statement that is explicit about supporting ministry in daily life; or
- "When you join this church, you join Jesus’ mission" – such wording on your church sign or in the Sunday bulletin?
STORIES OF MISSIONS
Four days at General Convention for an 11th grader
[The Michigan team at General Convention; Sam is ninth from the left.]
The Episcopal Church’s convention in Indianapolis in July hosted 15 teens from the Diocese of Michigan along with such teams from other dioceses. Among Michigan’s team was, 11th grader Sam, an acolyte and reader from St. Luke’s in Ypsilanti, MI.
What were some of the things you did?
“Mostly, we attended legislative and committee sessions. Budget discussions were boring but the House of Bishops discussion of the blessing of LGBT couples in the Church was interesting. Some called it unsacramental; others said not doing it was discrimination and, in the future, would drive a lot of young people away.”
What else did you do?
“We went to Eucharist every morning. I liked hearing different languages – half of a service in Spanish and half in English.”
What other issues did you hear discussed?
“An interesting topic we missed in the House of Bishops was hearing witnesses on the subject of people receiving Holy Communion without being baptized. They were to come after we had left to return home.”
What did you learn about the church?
“That blessing LBGT people and that people receiving Communion without baptism were issues.”
Did you see God, the Holy Spirit, at work there in any ways?
“There were some resolutions relating to these topics that passed through the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies despite how hard it was for them to pass. I thought that was pretty neat and a sign of God at work.”
Boys State and other services recognized
Grand Marshal of Montvale, NJ’s, Memorial Day Parade, Alan Litke, sits in the only BMW convertible “I’ll ever get that close to.” A retired middle school History teacher, his appointment recognized years of community service among youth and adults. For Alan, the most rewarding 
was 31 years as Chairman of the American Legion’s Boys State program. Starting with three delegates from three high schools, this year he sent 12 delegates from four schools, the largest team in Bergen County. Forty-nine states have such programs and the Legion’s Auxiliary offers a parallel Girls State.
Nine hundred delegates, all juniors in New Jersey, assemble at Rider College for a six-day program beginning on Father’s Day weekend that teaches leadership and citizenship training in how government works. They divide into four districts, pick candidates, campaign, have elections and develop and enact legislation to cope with current state problems. A recent year centered on waste and recycling problems for New Jersey. Two from every state go to Boys Nation in the late summer every year. That is where a young Bill Clinton met President John F. Kennedy.
Candidates are selected by guidance counselors and interviewed for selection by a committee headed by the local chair, Alan for 31 years. They write a paragraph of why they want to go. It seems most are led to sign up for the program through praise for it from members of a previous class.
Where do you see God at work in all this and how does God help you to do it?
“Someone up above likes it and encourages me. I have preached at my church on ‘Where do you see God in your life?’ I, also, ask youth groups to write down what they did that day to help someone else. Then, I ask did you like it and do you think God likes it. When they answer yes to both, I say, ‘You got paid twice.’”
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“E. J. Dionne on Liberty and Community” – this transcript of E. J. Dionne in dialog with Kim Lawton on Religion and Ethics Newsweekly of July 6, 2012 can help church groups – e.g., a Sunday morning adult forum – to explore the intimate connection and dialog between these two values that have been so much a part of our our history as a nation. Click on:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/july-6-2012/e-j-dionne-on-liberty-and-community/11709/ We commend omitting the excerpt from his book with its many political notes that follows the transcript.
“Using social media in your church” – [Joan Sparks, our Office Assistant, has summarized this series of webinars as follows for official boards and communications committees.]
Social Media is here to stay. This is the newest way to make connections between the church and its members, between its members and non-membes, and enables the passtor to go outside the box with communication to the congregation.
There are many new challenges which accompany the modernization of communication. Everyone, from the pastors to the congregation, needs to be careful of what is put on the internet because it is a public domain. It is always good to remember not to share too much of about one’s private life. You will be held accountable for any negative information or opinions you may have.
Churches have different levels of policies for using the internet. Small town America may have a hobbyist or someone that dabbles in internet communications with flexible or less restrictive policies. Churches in larger cities may have to employ specialists to see that their internet page(s) meet legal requirements.
Beyond these notes, the advantages of social media are more numerous. A few examples:
- Building new and stronger relationships between the church and the congregation, between members and between members and non-members, as well as promoting these relationships to grow whether they involves the church or not.
- Communication with the church members is simplified and the members can ask questions and get answers online through chatting.
- Church activities and events will increase public interest and promote higher attendance, involvement, and participation from both the congregation and local community.
- Show what your beliefs are to encourage non-members to join.
- Reach the younger generation by bridging one of the differences between their culture and ours.
- Offer online resources such as virtual bible study groups or gatherings to supplement the actual gatherings of groups you may have.
- Always remember keep the people energized and interested in various things the church is doing, for example allowing the congregation to give their input about the weekly sermon and other ideas.
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[Sources: Copeland, A. J., 6/9/12; www.ezinearticles.com]
On the animals
Each wild animal is the embodied story of natural forces which have been operative for millions of years and is, therefore, a priceless creation; a living embodiment from the past, a presentment of the future. It teaches the new joy of seeking out the wild creatures where they are leading their own fascinating lives.
– George Melendez Wright, advocating protection of the wild life as our National Parks developed, 1930's
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Continue a gracious summer
with a new topic each week at your Sunday adult form;
see Resources for this and previous months editions for ideas.
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God is most interested in how we live from Monday to Saturday.
Sunday – all of church life – helps us to do it better.