Dear St. Paul’s Family,
It’s been 15 years since I took Physics in college, but every once in a while I like making connections between my undergraduate science degree and my seminary training.
You may have never heard of a hodograph before, but I’m sure you’ve witnessed its practical applications. It’s one among the many useful diagrams physicists use to describe the direction, velocity, and trajectory of objects in motion. Without getting into mind-numbing equations and elaborate explanations, the most basic definition of a hodograph is that it analyzes a single point in time and space and charts motion in relation to that point.
It has widespread use among astronomers, engineers, and biologists, but its most practical use is in meteorology. Weather forecasters use hodographs to analyze wind speed and direction at various levels of the atmosphere, helping them track weather patterns and emerging storm systems.
Hodograph comes the Greek roots hodos, meaning “path,” and graph, for “drawing.” Interestingly, the word hodos is the same word that Jesus used in describing himself. Hear the words from John 14:6:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way (“hodos”) and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Right there, in the middle of John’s gospel, is a hodograph. John offers a chart that invites readers to plot their movement and direction in relation to a single point, Jesus Christ, the “Way.”
And what is that way? It is not the way of pride, self-promotion, or heartless ambition. It is not the way of power or destruction. It is certainly not the way of vindication or violence. It is nothing less than the way of love and the way of self-sacrifice. In the thirteen verses prior to this one, Jesus sets up the costly expectation of those who choose to follow the way of Jesus:
“Where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:33-34)
Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.” (John 13:37-38)
Following the way of Jesus is costly, for it leads to no other place but a cross. It challenges our ways of believing and behaving, and aligns us with values and priorities that are kingdom-shaped and counter-cultural. But its rewards are priceless. It unites us with others on the journey, forms us into a new community, and anticipates a life abundant and eternal. This hodograph is heaven-bound!
Jim Wallis, Christian author and activist, wrote in his book The Call to Conversion:
"The early Christians were known for the way they lived, not only for what they believed. For them, the two were completely intertwined. The earliest title given to them reflected the importance of their kingdom lifestyle. They were not called the people of the experience or the people of right doctrine or even the people of the church. Rather, they were the people of the Way. It is equally significant that the Christians were known as the people of the Way. More than just individuals who had been converted, they were now a people, a new community of faith, which had embarked together on a new way of life. To follow Jesus meant to share Jesus’ life and to share it with others.”
I invite you to join us this Sunday as we continue our journey through the “I am” statements of Jesus in John’s gospel with a sermon titled, “Something to Believe In: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” We will discover how we can be “People of the Way” once again!
See you on the way,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
John 14:1-7
14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And you know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
A GREAT HOUR, INDEED!
Thank you, St. Paul’s, for a wonderful response to the One Great Hour Special Offering. Your contributions total over $600.00 to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Know that as natural disasters strike all over the world, your gifts allow the United Methodist Church to be among the first on the scene. We still have a steady stream of coin banks and other donations coming in, so it’s not too late to contribute. Thank you!
AFTER THE RECOUNT.....
Marilyn Brubaker, chair of the Missions Committee, has learned that the Conference has recalculated our missions giving for 2007. We are very pleased to announce that your giving has enabled us to surpass not only First-Mile giving but also Honorable Mention giving! For the first time, St. Paul’s is a SECOND-MILE GIVING CHURCH! And we thought recounts only happened in Florida elections! Praise God, and thank you!
2020 VISION TEAM UPDATE
Thank you, St. Paul’s, for a tremendous response to the congregational survey With over 100 surveys returned, you produced a terrific 25% return rate on the surveys. The team has gone through the results and is mapping out the next steps in our long-term planning process. These steps will include:
- A meeting in the next few weeks with heads of local community service agencies, to listen for needs and opportunities for service by the church.
- A meeting soon after with civic and business leaders to hear their sense of community trends and challenges that might be served by the church.
- A series of focus group “feedback sessions” with members of the congregation to follow up on results from the survey. These sessions will commence shortly after Easter.
- Analysis of demographic data for the surrounding community
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS COMING!
We are looking forward to a very exciting, highly creative VBS this year! It is themed “Power Lab” and promises to be a thrilling, high-energy time for children in the community. We need volunteers with varying skill sets and creative abilities to make it happen, so this would be the perfect time to help if you’ve never served before! Please come to a brief orientation after church next Sunday, March 9, in the Feller Lounge. For more information, contact Carmen Teoli.
YOUTH PROGRESSIVE DINNER
Attention, youth grades 7-12! Join us this Sunday for a fun, delicious progressive dinner, and hear the story of the passion of Christ. Mid-highers will begin at the church at 4:15 and will be finished at 6:45. Senior highers will begin at 4:45 and be finished by 7:15.
SERMONS A LA CARTE
This annual ecumenical series concludes with services on March 5 and March 12, at Memorial Presbyterian Church. Services begin at 12:05pm, followed by a fellowship luncheon at 12:30. Magrey will be preaching this Wednesday.
EASTER LILIES
We are now receiving orders for Easter lilies that you may purchase in honor or in memory of a loved one. The cost is $11.00, made payable to the church. Please give us your order, including the names of those honored, by Wednesday, March 5.
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