The Closing of Tyson

August 12, 2014

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Perhaps you have noticed an important trend throughout our current sermon series on the book of Acts.  Giving of ourselves to people in need has always been an essential part of our history and our DNA.  Before the church erected any buildings, formalized its doctrine, or codified its canon of scriptures, it maintained a strong social witness and care for the poor. 

All the believers were united and shared everything.  They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.  Acts 2:44-45

There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need.  Acts 4:34-35

One of them, Agabus, stood up and, inspired by the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would overtake the entire Roman world. (This occurred during Claudius’ rule.)  The disciples decided they would send support to the brothers and sisters in Judea, with everyone contributing to this ministry according to each person’s abundance.  Acts 12:28-29

They were united.  They sold.  They shared.  They distributed.  They contributed.  Just reading through the verbs in the book of Acts will give you all you need to know about what our Christian forerunners felt was most important about our mission to the community.  When someone is in need, it is our job to help. 

THE CLOSING OF TYSON FOODS

As we all know, a few weeks ago, the Tyson Foods company announced that they would be closing three major production plants in the country, including the one that employs hundreds of people in this town.  The news has come as a devastating shock to many of our nearly 5,000 residents, many of whom have been employed with the company for decades. 

Communally, we have been moving through the various stages of grief, as would be expected when individuals deal with death and loss:  shock, denial, anger, despair.  Many have commented on the widespread economic and social impact this will have throughout Cherokee.  Others have reacted with blame and anger at various groups for not doing enough to prevent the closing.  Some have jumped quickly to predicting the demise of the town in the future.

I would remind us that, as a church, we are called to this important response:  to seek the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:7).  We are called to minister to more than simply the brothers and sisters in our own faith community.  We must minister to those throughout our town who are in need, underscored by the mission statement we adopted in 2008: “Transform Lives, Improve the Community, and Change the World.”

Whereas others might grieve, we must choose to give. 

So, here are three ways that people in this church can respond to the Tyson closing:

1.  Pray.  Pray for those whose lives will be most directly impacted by loss of employment, including the ancillary jobs throughout Cherokee not immediately employed by Tyson.  Pray for the civic and business leaders who are actively working to find a new tenant for the facility.  And pray for the overall economic, social, and civic climate in this town, that we can continue to attract and maintain stable employers in Cherokee.

2.  Help.  All of us, I suspect, know at least a few families who are going to be looking for new work after the plant closes on September 27.  Let us do whatever we can to be attentive, supportive, and helpful to our friends and neighbors.  Provide them meals.  Cut their grass.  Send them notes of encouragement.  Babysit their children as they go out to look for work.  Connect them to possible employment.  Sit and listen, and be a presence. 

3.  Finally, give.  I am proud of our Missions Committee, who last week voted to take up a special offering during the weeks of August 24, August 31, and September 7.  Money collected on those Sundays will be evenly distributed to agencies in town that will work with those affected by those with emergency financial needs:  the Salvation Army, the local food pantries, and the Cherokee County Ministerial Association.  One hundred percent of those funds will be distributed to people who will have trouble paying bills, purchasing food, providing for their children, or even finding places to live because of their job loss.

The book of Acts offers a very clear picture of what is both past and prescription.  In moments of crisis, the body of Christ has always taken care of the poor and downtrodden among us.  So we are called to do that again, for such a moment as this, to “reach out in concern and service to the world,” as our liturgy states.

As always, it is good to be the church.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

531 W. Main St.

Cherokee, IA  51012

Ph:  712-225-3955

Email:  mdevega@sp-umc.org