Dana does some homework surrounded by some of the posters the youth have made.
June 2006
To discern your mission at work, ask:
“What’s God seem to be doing to bring or to increase love and justice in my daily work?”
Then answer, “How will I join what God is already doing?”
This Month
STORIES
• On mission in Hollywood
• An electrician on his mission
• Helping teens to cope with the tobacco industry• A professor’s mission in renewable energy
RESOURCES
• Doing Holy Business: The Best of Vestry Papers for “Easing the Load: Missionaries One and All”
• “How to Find and Do God’s Work in Today’s World: Living your Faith in your Daily Mission Fields”
• Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives
• “Shepherding Notes”
• Your Daily Life is Your Temple
LETTERS
• An election judge
• On the universe
FOR MEDITATION
• Whose job is it?
STORIES
On mission in Hollywood
Barbara Nicolosi, Executive Director of Act One, a workshop in Hollywood, CA for aspiring Christian writers, says Christians could do great things for the film industry if they just mastered the skills of writing good scripts. For her, a Christian story has three marks. First, grace is being offered – not that the ending is “happy” but that the characters could have made the right choices. Second, the two hours at the movie are worth it – people have experienced a new reality and leave with something to keep and to use. Third, the story is better than “real” – the test is not stark reality but what the story was meant to do for people. A Christian movie has three marks. First, it is a harmony of harmonies – the music, performances, dialog, and plot have inner harmony and harmonize with each other. Second, it has wholeness – you do not leave with loose ends. Third, it has radiance – intellectual, moral, or spiritual enlightenment as simple as laughing with the rest of the audience which says “You are not alone.” A bad movie has some agenda – political or egalitarian (poor art is displayed just to be inclusive) or distraction (just fills up time and, so, lacks any note of prophecy).
For a CD: “Morning Panel C – Bringing Our Ethical Selves to Work” from the Fuller/CMDL Conference on “Serving God in the Work Place,” 4/21-23/06; on 2 CDs for $10; Office of Continuing Education, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N. Oakland, Pasadena, CA 91182; 626-584-5339; guy@fuller.edu
An electrician on his mission
What keeps you from taking advantage of the home owner who knows little about wiring? I want to do it right because, if I don’t, there will be complications down the road. I’ll have to fix it and, probably, get a bad reputation too. More important, it’s the right thing to do. It’s the way I was brought up.
Where did you learn your ethics? From my grandmother. She taught me to do right so that when I see the people I work for in the grocery store I can hold my head up.
Where is God in all of this? God will know if no one else does. I am always accountable to God. And so is everyone else.
(Anonymous)
Helping teens to cope with the tobacco industry
Dana does some homework surrounded by some of the posters the youth have made.
Dana Isabella works with teens to expose how the tobacco industry markets its products to them. Reality Check, her agency, is funded by the Tobacco Control Program of the New York State Department of Health for work in the North Country counties of Clinton and Essex. She works with all youth from twelve and thirteen to eighteen years of age. About 150 - 200 teens are the core of Reality Check with about twenty of them as key leaders. Activities include: a film-making workshop in New York City; sponsoring a coffee house for sharing the poetry of writers of all ages; making posters to expose the industry’s methods; and regularly presenting Reality Check to the Clinton County School Board. Such activities stretch the youth beyond what they originally thought they could do. For example, Sara, who could scarcely get out her two lines to the school board five years ago, now tours the country leading workshops.
The State Department of Health neither encourages nor discourages talk about faith. So, when asked, Dana responds out of her own experiences in ways that challenge the youth to go more deeply into their quest. She holds many meetings at her church, Trinity Episcopal in Plattsburgh, NY. The youth say, “You are the only one we know who does not make religion seem weird.”
How do you see God at work in Reality Check? “God is working to help the kids and comes in the ‘back door’ to find someone who cares for them.”
How does God help you to do this work? “God gives me the strengths to do it. I have rapport with the kids. I am able to set boundaries such as love and respect for everyone. For example, do not be unloving or unfair in the midst of the conflict over Bishop Robinson. Also, I belong to a community at church that helps me.”
Contact: Dana Isabella, Project Coordinator, Reality Check of Clinton & Essex Counties; 20 Ampersand Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901; 518-561-8480; RealityCheck@westelcom.com
A professor’s mission in renewable energy
In 2002, a student of Bob Hunckler, a geography professor at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, MI lured Bob into checking out an 1982 Mercedes that he had converted to run on vegetable oil left over from local fast food shops. The student donated the car to the college when the term ended. Seeing it as an educational tool, Bob arranged to have it displayed on the campus. He did have to overcome some resistance. Some of the administration did not want the car to be seen “in public.” They felt that it was more of a novelty that only farmers would be interested in – not flashy enough and would make the college look bad. Ultimately, the car ignited much discussion and much interest in alternative energy on campus and eventually led to an alternative energy conference sponsored by the college. One of the purposes of this conference was to assess the need for an alternative energy program at the college by talking with local professionals and business people. The response was an overwhelming “Yes.” Going forward with the program still met with a lot of “speed bumps” from those who did not find it “flashy enough”. Finally, an alternative energy course was offered last Fall. Bob will offer his own alternative energy course in the Fall semester. He will need a minimum of seven students or so.
When asked where he saw God at work in all of this, he responded, “I’d say I’ve been led step by step along the way. Everything that has ever happened in my life is leading me somewhere. It is a day-to-day struggle to figure out what that purpose might be. In the late1990s, I taught for three years in Hawaii where the people are very aware that they must conserve the land and the water in order to survive. The process of accommodating a modern society in Hawaii makes you realize how much it takes to accommodate a modern lifestyle anywhere. For instance, crude oil is shipped to
Hawaii where it is then refined into gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. Coal is shipped to Hawaii to provide electrical power. Here in Michigan, I am in the center of industrial activity and I often ask myself, ‘What is being made in that factory that people need? And most importantly, what is it doing to the environment? Do I need to buy that product in order to survive? Am I actually threatening someone’s health (or my own health) by buying that product?’ I am a steward of this earth and I feel that it is my duty to investigate and promote the field of alternative energy. Alternative energies such as wind, solar and biofuels are more than just novel ideas. 2.3 billion people in India and China want to live like Americans and this earth just won’t be able to handle that. I believe my interests are being utilized to help to promote the things that God wants to see happen. The large-scale use of alternative energy could prevent wars. Terrorism might dwindle. Farmers could be back in business. Global warming could be halted or slowed. Even the situation between Israel and Palestine might take on a new tone. I think those are all things that God would approve. And maybe I’m wrong. It is a day-to-day struggle trying to figure it out.”
When asked how he saw God helping him in this endeavor, he responded, “I am thankful for a loving family who support what I do as a teacher. I am thankful for the infrastructure that I have such as a home, a car, good health, the college that helps put food on the table, even the roads I drive on. I trust that all of that is supposed to be there in order for me to get down to business. I trust God. I wake up in the morning and I am thankful that I have another day to try to make the world a better place. That starts at home.”
Contact: Robert Hunckler, 4190 State Road, Fort Gratiot, MI 48059; 810-989-5750; bob@sc4geography.net
RESOURCES
Doing Holy Business: The Best of Vestry Papers edited by Lindsay Hardin Freeman, Church Publishing, 2006. This collection observes the tenth anniversary of this bi-monthly newsletter from the Episcopal Church Foundation “to encourage and guide those called by God to lead Episcopal congregations.” In the section on “Vestry Roles and Responsibilities,” see “Easing the Load: Missionaries One and All” by Wayne Schwab from the February-March 2003 issue. To subscribe to Vestry Papers, call 877-644-9941.
“How to Find and Do God’s Work in Today’s World: Living your Faith in your Daily Mission Fields” is a teleclass (via a conference phone call) led by A. Wayne Schwab on Tuesday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 25 at 7:00 pm EST (one hour in length). Are you searching for some thread of meaning in a “too busy” life? Are you ready for a wholly new way to connect Sunday to Monday? Join us as we explore how God has given you your daily life – your Monday-to-Saturday life – as precisely the place where mission can and does happen! Class size is limited to 10 and the cost is $28. Go to www.eministrynetwork.org > Check out . . . > “How to find . . .” > Register.
Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives by Karen Marie Yust, Jossey-Bass, 2004 is based on her eleven years as a pastor and workshop leader with support from her research funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. and other works in children’s spirituality. She follows the spiritual quest of the young from the early years through the teens and how parents can be a helpful part of it. Insets or sidebars summarize important sections and questions for both individual and group reflection follow the chapters. Topics such as learning of God from one’s caregivers in infancy through serving others; collecting signatures for a parent running for political office; as well as parents finding their faith community suggest the range of her insights.
“Shepherding Notes”– Marlin Whitmer supplies at St. Mark’s in Maquoketa, IA. The last note in the bulletin reads: “Our worship is over; our service begins.” He challenged the congregation to find a way to document their service. A nurse suggested “shepherding notes” – blank half pages in the bulletin for people to jot down areas of service during the week. These are placed on the offering plate for a blessing during the Eucharist. The vestry committed to the project
from Pentecost to Pentecost. A number of observations have been noted. The notes became more journal like and intercession became more pronounced. The notes could be expanded to include either the week past or the week ahead and to vary service with one of the other daily mission fields each week.
Contact: The Rev. Marlin Whitmer, Crystal Lake, 2602 250th Street, DeWitt, IA 52742-9171; 563-659-5456 or 563-320-4446; outreach@gmtel.com
Your Daily Life is Your Temple by Anne Rowthorn, Seabury Books, 2006. An able story-teller, Anne draws on the stories of both believers – in any faith – and non-believers. She, thereby, opens us to the common ground which Christians share with all who practice love and justice – the heart of God’s mission in Jesus Christ. Further, the stories cover all of the daily mission fields. The title might even have been “Your Daily Life in Your Daily Mission Fields.”
LETTERS
An election judge
I just read the latest newsletter [#37 – April, 2006]. I was struck by your reference to the County Board of Elections. Since moving to Minnesota, I responded several years ago to a request to be an election judge in my city of Maple Grove (about 55,000). I was immediately asked to be a Head Election Judge. I have thus been trained and now will serve for the third time (2002, 2004, 2006) in that capacity. In addition to developing friendships with many other civic-minded people who also work the polls, it is a chance to practice real hospitality with whomever comes through the door. Interestingly, I have been moved around, but my assigned polling place has always been in a church! I have also cultivated relationships with the election staff for the city. They are very dedicated to their work as civil servants. It is fun to reach out to them and show them some pastoral care as well. I even get hugs when I see them at City Hall when I’m there for other reasons!
From: The Rev. Jim Perry, Director of Ministries Minnesota Annual Conference 122 West Franklin Ave, #400 Minneapolis, MN 55404; 612-230-6124; jim. perry@mnumc.org
On the universe
John F. Haught’s work on evolution summarized in the March 2006 MMNews prompted Harry Hoffman (at hlhoffman3rd@comcast.net) to send these lines from Oliver Morton’s “Moonshine and Glue” in The American Scholar of Spring 2004. “Glue” is an acronym for Goldstone Lunar Ultra-high-energy-neutrino Experiment involving a giant radio telescope.
“Everything I can see is within our galaxy, tens of thousands of light years away at the most. The light from the brightest star, Sirius, has been traveling only for a few hundred million seconds – it’s not even as old as I am. ... Andromeda is our galaxy’s nearest neighbor and pretty much the farthest object you can see with the naked eye. But even that is only two million light years away.
“Two million light years is nothing compared with the depths the zetta-volt neutrinos come from, or compared with the distances radio astronomers treat as routine. But, gazing up into the desert sky...it already feels like looking out forever...Within minutes it (the radio telescope giant dish) has settled its aim: but not on the moon. Instead, it is looking at a spot of sky in the constellation of Virgo that lacks any visible distinguishing mark.
“There, too faint a source of visible light for the eye to see, is a quasar called 3C273, a vast black hole spewing out radio waves like a beacon. 3C273 is a thousand times as far off as Andromeda, two billion light years away. It is as bright as a hundred normal galaxies: a jet of hot gas longer than our galaxy is wide belches out to one side of it. Extraordinarily distant, unthinkably powerful.”
Harry comments: “Granting that this is still highly theoretical, it still has enough scientific relevance to be our best guess about the Universe. When we add to it Theology, then we really have something to think about.”
FOR MEDITATION
Whose job is it? This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
[Thanks to Tilly Close for this one.]
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