Surprise!

May 7, 2008

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Unfortunately, stories like this don’t come every day.

Last week, in a college playoff softball game, senior Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked a home run over the centerfield fence.  The story here is not just that the home run came with two runners out, or that it enabled Western Oregon University to take the lead, or even that it was Sara’s first ever home run, in high school or college.

As she rounded the bases, she realized she missed tagging first base, so she abruptly stopped and turned back to first.  In the process, she felt a stinging pain in her right knee and crumpled to the ground.  With a possible torn ligament, she crawled back to first and could go no further.  The umpire reminded her team that if any of her teammates came out to help her, she would be called out.  

So here comes the amazing part of the story.  Two opposing players from Central Washington University, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, went to the umpire and asked if they could help.  The umpire obliged.

With Sara’s arms around them, Mallory and Liz put their arms under Sara’s legs and carried her around the base path, stopping at each base for Sara to lower her good leg for to touch each bag.

When they made it to home plate, the three-run home run was counted, ultimately leading to Central Washington’s defeat and elimination from the playoffs.

Sara’s entire team was in tears.

Mallory would later tell reporters, “In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run."


SURPRISE!

Now, I’ll admit the temptation up front.  How can a preacher like me shae this story and not want to jump right to the Good Samaritan, or “I have come not come to be served, but to serve”?  There is no indication, of course, that Mallory or Liz did this out of any Christian convictions, or that they were doing this because Jesus told them to do it.

So rather than co-opt the story and spiritualize it for the taking, how about we turn the spotlight on us and ask, “Why do stories like this surprise us?  And why aren’t we the source of more of them?”  If there is any group that can be live out acts of love and selflessness, offering stories that surprise and flip conventional wisdom on its ear, shouldn’t it be the church in the world?  Aren’t we the living embodiment of the One who came to say “the first shall be last and the last shall be first?”

That is, after all, what the first Pentecost was about.  In one fiery, wind-swept moment, the Holy Spirit came and touched off a blazing movement that would call people to turn their lives around, sell their possessions, and give their money to the poor.  The capacity to amaze the world is in our history, it’s in our heritage, and it’s in our DNA.  

This Sunday, when we celebrate the birthday of the church, let’s remember that we are called to be a surprise to the world.  So that stories like this can come every day, from us.

It’s great to be the church,

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



Acts 2:1-12
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’



PENTECOST THIS SUNDAY
Next Sunday we observe the holy day of Pentecost, remembering the birth of the church and the arrival of the Spirit.  The liturgical color that day is red, reminding us of the power of the spirit’s fire as it touched the earth.  Consider wearing red in celebration of this special day.

CAMP FUND UPDATE
Thank you for your generous contribution to the camp scholarship fund.  Over $350.00 came in for scholarships for kids in our community to go to camp summer.  If you know of a child or youth would enjoy this fun, faith-building experience, applications are available in the Fellowship Hall or on the conference website at www.iaumc.org.

PRAYER PARTNERS FOR CHILDREN
This Sunday is the last day of Sunday school before we break for the summer. Back in December, several of you picked up names of children to pray for them as Prayer Partners.  We invite you to join the children for a party at 9:30 that morning.  Please let Marlene Kelly know if you are coming.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS COMING!
This year’s VBS is themed “Power Lab!” and will be an exciting adventure of faith and fun.  It will take place in the mornings, from June 9-13.  There are several ways you can help make this the biggest and best VBS ever:

1.  Spread the word to all the children you know!  Registration begins this Sunday, with a $5 registration per child.  Contact:  Carmen Teoli

2.  Volunteering your time (no experience necessary!).  Contact:  Jessica deVega

3.  Donate the following  items to help offset costs; you can drop them off in the church office.  Contact:   Korrie Waldner

        Hard foam or plywood for beakers in background.  Need 3 x 11.
        Lab beakers (to borrow) or any pharmaceutical looking jars.  
        Donations of the following for snacks: (to feed up to 50 children) or, will take money donations to purchase ourselves.
                Day 1: plain cookies, frosting, 1 bag of M&M’s (large), Orange slices.
                Day 2: cookies to smash, pudding cups.
                Day 3: pre-packaged cups of ice cream, cans of grape soda, maraschino cherries.
                Day 4: boxes of Ritz (or alternatively priced same thing), squirt cheese.
                Day 5: Whipped topping; 3 large containers, whipped cream (for toping), mixed fruit to cup (pineapples and strawberries)
        Blue balloons for power lab (10).  (need on day of or day early)
        2 bowling balls, 1 large fish tank, heavy suit case (on wheels)

4.  Consider making a financial contribution toward the costs.  We hope to minister to a large number of children in the community.