September 30, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
It has been over a year since I first arrived in Cherokee, and I have met many new people along the way. First-time interactions with new people tend to follow the same script: they ask about my family and what I do for a living. But they often begin with the inevitable question:
“So, where are you from?”
I’m never quite sure what answer people are expecting with that question. Sometimes, if they are really asking about my ethnicity, they will draw the question out with inadvertent hilarity, speaking slowly, and loudly, in case I don’t understand them.
“WHEERRE ARE YOOU FROMM?
In those moments, the playful side of me....okay, the irreverent side of me....will often respond:
“FORRT LAUDERRDAALE.”
Which typically surprises them, since they’ve never heard of that country.
It’s true: you can find out a lot about a person by asking about their past. But if you really want to get to know them – I mean really get to know who they are deep down inside – don’t just ask about their past, find out about their future. Don’t just ask them where they’re from. Ask them where they’re going.
In answering that question, you would find out a lot about me:
About where I hope to see myself twenty years from now.
About how I hope to grow old with my wife.
About how I want someday to see my daughter’s graduate from high school, and dance at their weddings.
About how I want to feel, at the end of my life, that I served the church to the best of my abilities.
The past may identify me, but the future is what defines me.
WE ARE THE CHURCH TOGETHER
As true as that may be for us as individuals, it’s even more true for the church. My favorite contemporary theologian, Marjorie Suchocki, writes about the nature of the church:
Consider the unity that is created if many people share in an identity formed through faith in Christ. The unity we see in a family group stems from its past: brothers and sisters, by sharing the same parents, share the same family identity. Their common past, whether by birth or adoption, defines them as family. For the family that is the Christian church, unity comes primarily from a shared future. Just as the sharing of a past creates a real kinship, even so the sharing of a future creates a real kinship. If John’s identity is formed through Christ, and if Kwasi’s identity is formed through Christ, and if Ti-Fam’s identity is formed through Christ, then all three share in the same identity and become brothers and sisters to one another even though they live so widely scattered in the world. Christ, as the source of their identity, is also the ground of their unity, creating in them a bond as real and as close as family, creating them as the community of church….In an orientation toward service, unity will become apparent, almost as a byproduct of responsiveness to the one God, leading us in ways of well-being. The future, not the past, clarifies the unity of the church.
So what is that shared future that unites us as the church? I like to point toward Revelation 7:9-17, our text for this Sunday:
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’
This is our common purpose. To join with Christians from around the world, throughout all time, overcoming our earthly differences to fulfill our created design: glorifying and celebrating God with word and deed.
This is where we are going, and we are on the journey together. No greater idea defines us as the church.
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
Join us this Sunday as we observe our global connection to Christians around the world, affirming our common destiny as joint-worshippers of the Lamb who sits on the throne. Our World Communion Sunday observance will feature delicious breads from around the world, prepared once again by Judi Klee, owner of The Spice Rack downtown. For more information about her products, visit www.homemadepizzelles.com. Let us come with renewed spirit and dedication to the mission of God in the world, and let us so live as we pray:
“Pour out your Spirit upon us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we might be, for the world, the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.”
So, where are you from? And more importantly, where are you going?
It’s still 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
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.
10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
12 singing, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’
14 I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
PORK FEED THANK YOU
Thank you for your generous response to our pork feed last Sunday, particularly to those who brought sides and desserts, worked in the kitchen, and to the Parker family for their delicious main course. Your donations brought in over $1,000 toward the Next Generation Fund, which supports future opportunities for growth in the church.
YOUTH OUTINGS THIS SUNDAY
Senior Highers grades 9-12 are invited to the Wilkie’s for a fun bonfire and games from 6:30-8:00pm. Mid-Highers grades 7-8 are invited to the Dagel’s from 6:30-8:00 for a similar time of fun and fellowship.
CHEROKEE PEACE PROJECT
St. Paul’s is joining with the Ministerial Association to explore installing a peace pole in a visible place in Cherokee. There are thousands of such poles in cities around the country, and are inscribed with messages of peace in languages from around the world. We are meeting to make initial plans this Thursday, so if you are interested, please contact Magrey.
BIRTHDAY EVENT
The family of Joyce Phipps Pyle invites you to join them for coffee & dessert, honoring Joyce, on Sunday, October 5th from 1:00-3:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. No gifts, please.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Who are We, Really?
September 9, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
See if these election-time questions sound familiar:
These might sound like they were snapped off the latest public opinion polls, but it may surprise you to hear that these were asked by people in the nation of Israel, in 930 B.C. King Solomon had died, and the great empire built by him and his father David was in the midst of tremendous political upheaval. In its midst was this central question: “Who will be our leader?”
Opinions were divided into two camps. There were those who believed in following the succession of blood relatives of David. He was, after all, the one with whom God had made an everlasting covenant, promising his heirs on the throne forever. These were the “pedigree” people, and they lived in Judah, in the south.
To the north were the “charisma” people, who believed that their king should be determined by one’s ability to demonstrate that God was with them. If they could prove that they had what it took to defeat foreign enemies, call people to obedience to God, and usher in a future of promise, then they were the ones that God had chosen for that time.
These divisions were so deep that the nation was irreconcilably split into two nations in 930 B.C. There was the Southern Kingdom, with Solomon’s son Rehoboam as its king in the capital of Jerusalem. And, there was the Northern Kingdom, with Jeroboam as its king in the new capital of Shechem.
WHO ARE WE?
It has often been said that elections are more than about who we want as a leader. They are also about who we believe ourselves to be. This was never more true than in the case of Ancient Israel, for their divisions were more than about policies and issues. They were about national identity, as well as their belief in God.
The Southern Kingdom, those who adhered to the promise of the Davidic covenant, believed in a God who was fixed, immobile, and always faithful to keep his promises. Theirs was a belief in an immutable, changeless God, whose presence could always be found in the Temple, and whose King was a living embodiment of the eternal promise made with David. This was a God of stasis and faithfulness, and this God didn’t move.
But those in the North had a different perspective. They identified God as the one who led the people from slavery to freedom in the wilderness. A God who was always on the move, charging forward as a pillar of cloud by day and a fire by night. This God was free to choose as he desired the best course of action for any given moment. Instead of believing themselves to be a “Temple” people, the tribes of the North were a “Tabernacle” people, who believed that God was on the march, and they best choose a leader whom God had anointed for that given time. And whenever that leader failed to perform, it was time to select a new king (often by assassination, which is why kings in the south always served until natural death.)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ELECTION
I did some calculating today. This will be only my fifth presidential election. And in many ways, it feels like the most important one. Not just because the issues of war, the economy, health care, immigration, and education are so critical, but because it feels like we are a nation at a critical crossroads in determining our identity.
Susan Page, a political columnist for the USA Today, touched on this with an excellent front page article last Friday:
The nation is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, a diversity that has spread across the country. Aging Baby Boomers remain the biggest generational group in the electorate, but second in size are the Millennials — 18- to 31-year-olds who have distinctive attitudes toward race and politics. In the space of a generation, Americans have seen dramatic changes in the roles of women, the structure of families and the nature of the workplace. There has been a revolution in the technology that delivers information and knits communities….Presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama personify that changing nation in striking ways. In age, race and life experience — even in use of innovative technology in the campaign — they mirror a nation in transition. (“Stage Set for Pivotal Realignment in ‘08”, USA Today, September 5, 2008)
And later in the article, William Frey, a Brookings Institution scholar who analyzes population trends, offered, "This is a pivotal moment in the sense that the politics is catching up to the demographic changes."
As a result, both presidential tickets are attempting to negotiate these massive demographic plates shifting beneath our culture. Both offer a balance between novelty (Obama and Palin) and pedigree (Biden and McCain). Both have seized the “change” mantra while attempting to reassure experience and instill trust.
And this has translated into widespread interest in both campaigns. Millions in record numbers have watched both conventions, and voter registrations throughout the country are at an all-time high. People are recognizing that the historic significance of this election is broader than just having the first African-American president or first female vice-president. Deep down inside, I think we realize that this election will say volumes about who we believe we are, and where we believe we are headed.
In the end, I am confident that our fate will not be the same as that of ancient Israel: irreconcilably divided into two separate nations. But this is all the more reason to take this election seriously, be fully informed about the candidates and not just rely on campaign spin, to get involved in the process, and by all means, exercise our freedom to vote.
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
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us for worship this Sunday as we continue in our sermon series on Jonah with a sermon focusing on his prayer in the midst of the fish’s belly. You can read ahead by looking at Jonah 2-3.
ADULTS NEEDED FOR ADVENTURELAND TRIP
We have a number of youth interested in going to this Saturday’s trip to Adventureland, but we have a shortage of adults able to stay in the park and serve as chaperones. Please let Karla Wilkie know by this Thursday night if you can help, so we can let the youth know if this trip will go forward. The cost of your ticket will be covered.
NEW SENIOR HIGH YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Ever wonder what your faith has to do with the way you live, and with issues that are facing the world? Starting this Sunday, senior high youth are invited to join John Chalstrom on a six-week exploration of the United Methodist Social Principles. Join us for this informative and inspiring class on Sundays at 9am.
PORK FEED SEPTEMBER 28
It’s that time of year again! Mark your calendars for our annual Pork Feed on September 28 to help raise money for our Next Generation Fund. Once again, the Parker family will be providing the delicious main course, and we are asking you to bring a side dish to share.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
See if these election-time questions sound familiar:
- Do we choose change or experience?
- Do we look for charisma or pedigree?
- Do we hope for the future or reclaim past glory?
These might sound like they were snapped off the latest public opinion polls, but it may surprise you to hear that these were asked by people in the nation of Israel, in 930 B.C. King Solomon had died, and the great empire built by him and his father David was in the midst of tremendous political upheaval. In its midst was this central question: “Who will be our leader?”
Opinions were divided into two camps. There were those who believed in following the succession of blood relatives of David. He was, after all, the one with whom God had made an everlasting covenant, promising his heirs on the throne forever. These were the “pedigree” people, and they lived in Judah, in the south.
To the north were the “charisma” people, who believed that their king should be determined by one’s ability to demonstrate that God was with them. If they could prove that they had what it took to defeat foreign enemies, call people to obedience to God, and usher in a future of promise, then they were the ones that God had chosen for that time.
These divisions were so deep that the nation was irreconcilably split into two nations in 930 B.C. There was the Southern Kingdom, with Solomon’s son Rehoboam as its king in the capital of Jerusalem. And, there was the Northern Kingdom, with Jeroboam as its king in the new capital of Shechem.
WHO ARE WE?
It has often been said that elections are more than about who we want as a leader. They are also about who we believe ourselves to be. This was never more true than in the case of Ancient Israel, for their divisions were more than about policies and issues. They were about national identity, as well as their belief in God.
The Southern Kingdom, those who adhered to the promise of the Davidic covenant, believed in a God who was fixed, immobile, and always faithful to keep his promises. Theirs was a belief in an immutable, changeless God, whose presence could always be found in the Temple, and whose King was a living embodiment of the eternal promise made with David. This was a God of stasis and faithfulness, and this God didn’t move.
But those in the North had a different perspective. They identified God as the one who led the people from slavery to freedom in the wilderness. A God who was always on the move, charging forward as a pillar of cloud by day and a fire by night. This God was free to choose as he desired the best course of action for any given moment. Instead of believing themselves to be a “Temple” people, the tribes of the North were a “Tabernacle” people, who believed that God was on the march, and they best choose a leader whom God had anointed for that given time. And whenever that leader failed to perform, it was time to select a new king (often by assassination, which is why kings in the south always served until natural death.)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ELECTION
I did some calculating today. This will be only my fifth presidential election. And in many ways, it feels like the most important one. Not just because the issues of war, the economy, health care, immigration, and education are so critical, but because it feels like we are a nation at a critical crossroads in determining our identity.
Susan Page, a political columnist for the USA Today, touched on this with an excellent front page article last Friday:
The nation is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, a diversity that has spread across the country. Aging Baby Boomers remain the biggest generational group in the electorate, but second in size are the Millennials — 18- to 31-year-olds who have distinctive attitudes toward race and politics. In the space of a generation, Americans have seen dramatic changes in the roles of women, the structure of families and the nature of the workplace. There has been a revolution in the technology that delivers information and knits communities….Presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama personify that changing nation in striking ways. In age, race and life experience — even in use of innovative technology in the campaign — they mirror a nation in transition. (“Stage Set for Pivotal Realignment in ‘08”, USA Today, September 5, 2008)
And later in the article, William Frey, a Brookings Institution scholar who analyzes population trends, offered, "This is a pivotal moment in the sense that the politics is catching up to the demographic changes."
As a result, both presidential tickets are attempting to negotiate these massive demographic plates shifting beneath our culture. Both offer a balance between novelty (Obama and Palin) and pedigree (Biden and McCain). Both have seized the “change” mantra while attempting to reassure experience and instill trust.
And this has translated into widespread interest in both campaigns. Millions in record numbers have watched both conventions, and voter registrations throughout the country are at an all-time high. People are recognizing that the historic significance of this election is broader than just having the first African-American president or first female vice-president. Deep down inside, I think we realize that this election will say volumes about who we believe we are, and where we believe we are headed.
In the end, I am confident that our fate will not be the same as that of ancient Israel: irreconcilably divided into two separate nations. But this is all the more reason to take this election seriously, be fully informed about the candidates and not just rely on campaign spin, to get involved in the process, and by all means, exercise our freedom to vote.
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
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us for worship this Sunday as we continue in our sermon series on Jonah with a sermon focusing on his prayer in the midst of the fish’s belly. You can read ahead by looking at Jonah 2-3.
ADULTS NEEDED FOR ADVENTURELAND TRIP
We have a number of youth interested in going to this Saturday’s trip to Adventureland, but we have a shortage of adults able to stay in the park and serve as chaperones. Please let Karla Wilkie know by this Thursday night if you can help, so we can let the youth know if this trip will go forward. The cost of your ticket will be covered.
NEW SENIOR HIGH YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Ever wonder what your faith has to do with the way you live, and with issues that are facing the world? Starting this Sunday, senior high youth are invited to join John Chalstrom on a six-week exploration of the United Methodist Social Principles. Join us for this informative and inspiring class on Sundays at 9am.
PORK FEED SEPTEMBER 28
It’s that time of year again! Mark your calendars for our annual Pork Feed on September 28 to help raise money for our Next Generation Fund. Once again, the Parker family will be providing the delicious main course, and we are asking you to bring a side dish to share.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Nothing But Nets
August 27, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
If I were to tell you that ten dollars could save a life, would you believe me?
More importantly, would you give it?
Every year, 1 million people die around the world from malaria. It is particularly devastating in Africa, where malaria cases account for roughly half of all hospital admissions. Malaria-related illnesses also affect the economy, with an estimated 12 billion dollars per year in lost productivity, foreign investment, and tourism. Worst of all, malaria kills 1 child in Africa every 30 seconds.
The predominant carrier for the disease is the African mosquito, which is most active at night, between the hours of 10pm and 4am. Sleeping African children become unsuspecting prey to a disease that has the potential of killing them in a matter of weeks.
But the tragic irony is that malaria is entirely preventable. By supplying families with insecticide-treated nets that hang over their beds, rates of transmission drop a whopping 90 percent. Couple that with anti-malarial drugs and efforts to stem the breeding of these mosquitoes, and Africa could join the rest of the world in combating and even eliminating the threat of this disease.
And the cost of each net? You guessed it. Ten dollars.
Jesus was very clear: if you minister to the sick, the dying, the diseased, and the poor, you minister to Jesus himself. The church is called to respond to the needs of others with fervor and diligence, whether those needs be here in Cherokee, or in the most remote parts of the world.
The Iowa Annual Conference has placed a special emphasis on combating malaria by supporting a program called Nothing But Nets, an agency committed to fighting the disease one family and one life at a time by providing insecticide-laced bed nets. As of last Annual Conference, churches throughout Iowa have provided over $200,000 of support. That means 20,000 families have been saved through the efforts of Iowa United Methodists.
St. Paul’s joins the effort this Sunday, with a special offering for the Nothing But Nets program. I would invite you to be prayerful and generous with your support, and know that all of the offering will count toward our Rainbow Covenant Missions giving effort this year. More importantly, you will know that your small sacrifice will literally save a life.
For more information about the Nothing But Nets program, visit www.nothingbutnets.net.
It is still great to be the church. See you Sunday!
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
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
If I were to tell you that ten dollars could save a life, would you believe me?
More importantly, would you give it?
Every year, 1 million people die around the world from malaria. It is particularly devastating in Africa, where malaria cases account for roughly half of all hospital admissions. Malaria-related illnesses also affect the economy, with an estimated 12 billion dollars per year in lost productivity, foreign investment, and tourism. Worst of all, malaria kills 1 child in Africa every 30 seconds.
The predominant carrier for the disease is the African mosquito, which is most active at night, between the hours of 10pm and 4am. Sleeping African children become unsuspecting prey to a disease that has the potential of killing them in a matter of weeks.
But the tragic irony is that malaria is entirely preventable. By supplying families with insecticide-treated nets that hang over their beds, rates of transmission drop a whopping 90 percent. Couple that with anti-malarial drugs and efforts to stem the breeding of these mosquitoes, and Africa could join the rest of the world in combating and even eliminating the threat of this disease.
And the cost of each net? You guessed it. Ten dollars.
Jesus was very clear: if you minister to the sick, the dying, the diseased, and the poor, you minister to Jesus himself. The church is called to respond to the needs of others with fervor and diligence, whether those needs be here in Cherokee, or in the most remote parts of the world.
The Iowa Annual Conference has placed a special emphasis on combating malaria by supporting a program called Nothing But Nets, an agency committed to fighting the disease one family and one life at a time by providing insecticide-laced bed nets. As of last Annual Conference, churches throughout Iowa have provided over $200,000 of support. That means 20,000 families have been saved through the efforts of Iowa United Methodists.
St. Paul’s joins the effort this Sunday, with a special offering for the Nothing But Nets program. I would invite you to be prayerful and generous with your support, and know that all of the offering will count toward our Rainbow Covenant Missions giving effort this year. More importantly, you will know that your small sacrifice will literally save a life.
For more information about the Nothing But Nets program, visit www.nothingbutnets.net.
It is still great to be the church. See you Sunday!
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
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
God and Golf
August 20, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
What a wonderful celebration we had last Sunday! We give thanks to God for all the energy and love that filled the sanctuary, as we commemorated our 150 years of ministry together. Special thanks go to the members of the History Committee (Joyce Pyle, Dee Taylor, and Marlene Kelly) for all their hard work over the past several weeks.
Among the ministers we have celebrated during this series is the Rev. Don Johnson, who served here from 1986-1990. He is retired now, and living in Oceanside, CA with his wife Marileen. An avid golfer, he recently wrote a book connecting the game of golf with the Christian life. It’s called Another Zone: God and Golf. Along with his greetings, he recently sent us a copy of the book, which we will make available in the church library.
I am not much of a golfer, and my swing is horrendous - more like Charles Barkley’s than Tiger Woods’. I can, however, see the game’s allure, and why it is so attractive to people who enjoy being outdoors and need to forget about the world’s troubles for a round or two. But I’ve never connected the game with spirituality like Don Johnson. After perusing the book, I picked up a few choice quotes, like this one from the chapter titled “Your Will Versus Relaxing”:
All kinds of mistakes happen when you force yourself beyond your capacity. One of the major things that will happen (if you are right handed) is that you will push your right hand and wrists through the ball so it will pull the ball to the left. Or, another action that results from imposing your will is hitting the ground before the club strikes the ball – you dipped your right or left shoulder in trying to hit the ball farther. Or, another possible consequence is miss-hitting the ball - - taking your eye off the ball – because you so willfully determined to hit it farther. Your anger is vented in a radical and uncontrolled swing. We all know what an uncontrolled swing is.
As your game collapses, your anxiety increases and your will to do better is intensified to the extent that your swing is out of control. To play within your capabilities is to live by grace. When you push yourself beyond your capabilities you are essentially saying to yourself that you do not accept your present skill of golf.
Living in the context of doing God’s will – the most inner part of your being – is the most relaxing and energizing stance that you can possibly have.
GUEST PREACHER THIS SUNDAY
We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Ray Kruger, retired Presbyterian minister, as our guest preacher this Sunday. He will be preaching a sermon titled, “God’s Compellingly Compassionate Love.” I will be out of town with my family for a wedding, and will be back Monday night. If there is an emergency, please contact the church office.
Have a joyous weekend, and once again, Happy Anniversary!
Grace,
Magrey
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
What a wonderful celebration we had last Sunday! We give thanks to God for all the energy and love that filled the sanctuary, as we commemorated our 150 years of ministry together. Special thanks go to the members of the History Committee (Joyce Pyle, Dee Taylor, and Marlene Kelly) for all their hard work over the past several weeks.
Among the ministers we have celebrated during this series is the Rev. Don Johnson, who served here from 1986-1990. He is retired now, and living in Oceanside, CA with his wife Marileen. An avid golfer, he recently wrote a book connecting the game of golf with the Christian life. It’s called Another Zone: God and Golf. Along with his greetings, he recently sent us a copy of the book, which we will make available in the church library.
I am not much of a golfer, and my swing is horrendous - more like Charles Barkley’s than Tiger Woods’. I can, however, see the game’s allure, and why it is so attractive to people who enjoy being outdoors and need to forget about the world’s troubles for a round or two. But I’ve never connected the game with spirituality like Don Johnson. After perusing the book, I picked up a few choice quotes, like this one from the chapter titled “Your Will Versus Relaxing”:
All kinds of mistakes happen when you force yourself beyond your capacity. One of the major things that will happen (if you are right handed) is that you will push your right hand and wrists through the ball so it will pull the ball to the left. Or, another action that results from imposing your will is hitting the ground before the club strikes the ball – you dipped your right or left shoulder in trying to hit the ball farther. Or, another possible consequence is miss-hitting the ball - - taking your eye off the ball – because you so willfully determined to hit it farther. Your anger is vented in a radical and uncontrolled swing. We all know what an uncontrolled swing is.
As your game collapses, your anxiety increases and your will to do better is intensified to the extent that your swing is out of control. To play within your capabilities is to live by grace. When you push yourself beyond your capabilities you are essentially saying to yourself that you do not accept your present skill of golf.
Living in the context of doing God’s will – the most inner part of your being – is the most relaxing and energizing stance that you can possibly have.
GUEST PREACHER THIS SUNDAY
We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Ray Kruger, retired Presbyterian minister, as our guest preacher this Sunday. He will be preaching a sermon titled, “God’s Compellingly Compassionate Love.” I will be out of town with my family for a wedding, and will be back Monday night. If there is an emergency, please contact the church office.
Have a joyous weekend, and once again, Happy Anniversary!
Grace,
Magrey
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
"There Has Been Much Done, And We Have Done So Little"
August 12, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
“I arrived at Cherokee August 18, 1858, crossed the river on a small ferry boat near the old white mill accompanied by my wife and 18 month old daughter. My wife, one of a Methodist family several of whom are noted for their deep Christian character: brave, kind, and true, endowed with energy and pluck, with her good judgment and common sense, helped me through many hard places.”
And so begins the journal of the Rev. O.S. Wight, the Methodist Circuit Rider who first preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the fledgling community of twenty residents living in Cherokee 150 years ago. O.S. Wight was a mere seven generations removed from Thomas Wight, one of the original pilgrims who lived in Massachusetts in 1635. I’ve spent some time reading through pages of his journal, and have been amazed at the stories of faith, courage, and determination that marked this early pioneer of the faith.
“My education being much limited I felt my inability to fulfill my calling. Out of my scanty means I bought books and devoted my spare time to study but made slow progress as life was a constant struggle for existence….”
“Peterson and Spirit Lake were included in my charge. I had nothing to make these trips with except an ox team. I sometimes walked the entire distance, there being no bridges. I often encountered bad mud holes and swollen streams….My wife remained at home, surrounded by all the danger, loneliness, and disadvantage of pioneer life….”
The “disadvantage of pioneer life” would ultimately claim the life of their young daughter, who died suddenly after a two-day battle with a mystery illness. She was buried “on the high bluff near the south bank of Mill Creek,” and he supposed that she was likely the first burial to ever take place in this area.
Yet despite the pain and hardship of living and serving on the frontier, Wight pressed on to fulfill the call that God had placed in his life. During his first year he preached about 50 sermons to the people of Cherokee and the surrounding area, and made it through the first year on $57.50 of support. He faithfully made visits to families throughout Cherokee, Peterson, and Spirit Lake, organized class meetings, and held prayer meetings. Among those he organized was a small class in 1866, just 4 miles northeast of Cherokee. This group would eventually become the church of which we are a part today.
Toward the end of his life, having witnessed the population of this area bloom to a bustling community of a few thousand, Wight reflected on the impact of the gospel on the people that he served throughout his years:
“(There are people here) by the thousands who are among the most prosperous, industrious, and intelligent people the world has ever known. What makes them what they are? I answer ‘the gospel of Christ.’ I said to a friend a short time ago, I have lived here so long there has been so much done, and I have done so little. He said you held the ground and we will not know until the time of (reckoning) comes who has done the most so we do what we can.”
Of all the statements in Wight’s journal, that last sentence may be the most profound for us. At times it may seem that our efforts and sacrifices pale in comparison to those made by our spiritual ancestors. We have not paid with our lives as the first century martyrs once did. We have not formulated the church’s doctrine as the early theologians have for us. We have not had to survive persecutions, inquisitions, or even harsh pioneer living. “There has been so much done, and we have done so little.”
But our efforts do make a difference. Mother Theresa once said, “God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful.” And it is for his faithfulness that we remember O.S. Wight, as well as the countless pastors and lay people who forged a faith that we have inherited. And may that be the simple standard to which we ascribe today.
This Sunday, we mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of this congregation. May we approach this day with solemnity and reverence, as well as joyous celebration for the work that God has done. And may we be inspired to face a bright future with great hope and faith!
See you Sunday!
Magrey
MAYORAL PROCLAMATION
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, August 13, at 1pm in the sanctuary, as Mayor Pam Pierce offers an official proclamation declaring August 18, 2008 as “St. Paul’s United Methodist Day.” The Cherokee Chronicle will be here to cover the event, and it would be good to have a number of congregation members here.
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
This Sunday’s special worship service is followed by a celebration luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. We give great thanks to Lee and Jan Nelson for donating the hams, and we invite those whose last names begin with A-M to bring desserts, and N-Z to bring salads. The sign up sheet is downstairs outside the church office.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Anamnesis
August 5, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
My family and I have been spending the past few days on Horseshoe Lake, Minnesota, at a cabin owned by Jessica’s family. This is a special place for her, as it prompts many childhood memories of summers spent fishing and boating, swimming and water-skiing. The shoreline beach is foot-printed with many ferocious games of beach volleyball. The boat dock is lined with stories of big-time catches, and ones that got away. The clothesline in the yard reminds Jessica of summers spent wearing nothing but her swimsuit, indoors and out, 24 hours a day. And the dining room table is etched with countless games of euchre, hearts, spades, and card houses that filled many rainy days and cloudless nights.
My first memory of the lake was fifteen years ago this month, when I met Jessica’s extended family for the first time. Walking out onto the dock, I introduced myself to her Uncle Mike, and the conversation went something like this:
“Hi, you must be Uncle Mike,” I said. “I’m Jessica’s new boyfriend.”
“Oh, hey there!” said Mike, with a firm handshake. “You must be Steve.”
“Umm…”
“No? Then you’re Rick….Mark?.....Joe?......”
“My name’s Magrey,” I said, sheepishly.
“Aw, I’m just kidding with ya’,” he said, swatting my now-slumped shoulders, nearly knocking me into the water.
(I credit Mike with this idea for a prank I swear someday I will play on my daughters’ new boyfriends.)
All of us should have locales like these that can serve as memory reservoirs – places that flood you with memories so vivid and evocative that it feels like you are reliving them the moment you walk in. Maybe for you it’s a backyard tree house, a grade school tire swing, a library bean bag chair, or a patch of grass under a shady oak tree.
Whatever place is unique to you, I believe we all share one in common. It’s the church: a memory reservoir unlike any other.
When the New Testament speaks of remembrance, it often uses the Greek word anamnesis, a word packed with so much meaning that there is no perfect English equivalent. To first century Christians, this kind of remembering was more than just “fondly recollecting,” or flipping back through one’s mental scrapbook to ponder past events. To remember something “anamnetically” was to do so with such vividness and clarity that the events of the past came alive in the present, as if they were happening for the first time.
This is exactly the word that Jesus used in the upper room, when he told his disciples to share in the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. When we partake of communion, we aren’t just retelling a fable secured in the distant past. We share in such a dynamic, anamnetic remembrance of Jesus that he is actually alive in our experience, a real presence in real time.
The church is where this kind of vibrant remembrance occurs. In every aspect of our worshipping life together, the past springs to life, and those who have gone before us join us in a mystical communion that lives in and through us.
The sermon this Sunday is based on the prophet Isaiah, who spoke words of comfort and hope to a people in exile, and offered them this call to remembrance.
Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
Remember and celebrate! See you Sunday!
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
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
My family and I have been spending the past few days on Horseshoe Lake, Minnesota, at a cabin owned by Jessica’s family. This is a special place for her, as it prompts many childhood memories of summers spent fishing and boating, swimming and water-skiing. The shoreline beach is foot-printed with many ferocious games of beach volleyball. The boat dock is lined with stories of big-time catches, and ones that got away. The clothesline in the yard reminds Jessica of summers spent wearing nothing but her swimsuit, indoors and out, 24 hours a day. And the dining room table is etched with countless games of euchre, hearts, spades, and card houses that filled many rainy days and cloudless nights.
My first memory of the lake was fifteen years ago this month, when I met Jessica’s extended family for the first time. Walking out onto the dock, I introduced myself to her Uncle Mike, and the conversation went something like this:
“Hi, you must be Uncle Mike,” I said. “I’m Jessica’s new boyfriend.”
“Oh, hey there!” said Mike, with a firm handshake. “You must be Steve.”
“Umm…”
“No? Then you’re Rick….Mark?.....Joe?......”
“My name’s Magrey,” I said, sheepishly.
“Aw, I’m just kidding with ya’,” he said, swatting my now-slumped shoulders, nearly knocking me into the water.
(I credit Mike with this idea for a prank I swear someday I will play on my daughters’ new boyfriends.)
All of us should have locales like these that can serve as memory reservoirs – places that flood you with memories so vivid and evocative that it feels like you are reliving them the moment you walk in. Maybe for you it’s a backyard tree house, a grade school tire swing, a library bean bag chair, or a patch of grass under a shady oak tree.
Whatever place is unique to you, I believe we all share one in common. It’s the church: a memory reservoir unlike any other.
When the New Testament speaks of remembrance, it often uses the Greek word anamnesis, a word packed with so much meaning that there is no perfect English equivalent. To first century Christians, this kind of remembering was more than just “fondly recollecting,” or flipping back through one’s mental scrapbook to ponder past events. To remember something “anamnetically” was to do so with such vividness and clarity that the events of the past came alive in the present, as if they were happening for the first time.
This is exactly the word that Jesus used in the upper room, when he told his disciples to share in the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. When we partake of communion, we aren’t just retelling a fable secured in the distant past. We share in such a dynamic, anamnetic remembrance of Jesus that he is actually alive in our experience, a real presence in real time.
The church is where this kind of vibrant remembrance occurs. In every aspect of our worshipping life together, the past springs to life, and those who have gone before us join us in a mystical communion that lives in and through us.
- When we say the Lord’s Prayer, our voices are joined with that of Rev. O.S. Wight, the Methodist circuit rider who first brought Methodism to Cherokee 150 years ago.
- When we sing “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord,” we are joined by the St. Paul’s congregation of 1915, who sang that hymn when our sanctuary was first dedicated.
- When we recite “The Apostles’ Creed,” we feel the electric presence of the saints who have gone before us: loved ones, friends, preachers and lay people alike, who forged a faith upon which we stand.
- And at every moment, we remember Jesus, who lives and reigns among us, guiding our church through 150 years of ministry.
The sermon this Sunday is based on the prophet Isaiah, who spoke words of comfort and hope to a people in exile, and offered them this call to remembrance.
Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
Remember and celebrate! See you Sunday!
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
Thursday, July 31, 2008
"They Need Not Go Away"
July 31, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
On rare occasions, the gospel writers move from being objective sideline reporters to becoming intuitive mind readers, weaving both the actions of Jesus with his attitudes, and giving us a glimpse into the innermost workings of his mind and heart. One such passage is Matthew’s version of the feeding of the miracle:
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
The original Greek word for compassion literally means “gut-wrenching.” Specifically, it is the word “splanchnidzomai,” and is related to the splanchnic nerve that connects to the stomach. For Jesus, seeing the needs of the crowd was a punch to his gut. His reaction was no mere pity; nor was it simply “feeling sorry for them.” It was visceral and real, twisting his stomach in knots.
It is easy to envision a Jesus who keeps his emotions in check, calmly and steadily aiding the masses with commendable efficiency. But Matthew and Mark are the only gospels to share with us Jesus’ gut-wrenching motive, and it is to illustrate a point. Jesus not only ministered to but also identified with the suffering of the people. They were not anonymous victims, or numbers on a roster, or appointments on a calendar. They were real people, with real stories, and real pain.
Your storm relief team is just hours removed from returning from three days of work in Cedar Rapids. Collectively we put in over 100 hours of work in two residences and a church, removing debris and doing demolition, in the midst of a community shell-shocked by the catastrophic results of last month’s floods. Cedar Rapids alone has lost 5400 homes in only a nine-mile radius, with an estimated 1 billion dollars in total damage. We worked at St. James United Methodist Church, one of three Methodist churches severely damaged by the floods. Of their 125 families, 67 lost their homes, including the parsonage. Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article covering the latest news in Cedar Rapids, including a picture of the street where we were working. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/us/30cedar.html?hp)
In a word, the scene was gut-wrenching.
But Matthew’s feeding story takes a turn toward the unexpected. His is the only gospel to record Jesus’ words to the disciples that utterly undermined their expectations and intentions. After the disciples had tried to give Jesus a reality check, telling him that there was no food and little time to care for this massive need, and encouraging Jesus to cut the people loose to care for themselves, he offered this word:
“They need not go away.”
Perhaps the disciples were simply being pragmatic; we wouldn’t blame them. Perhaps they subscribed to the well-worn conviction that people like this needed to help themselves rather than wait for a hand-out; that’s a popular sentiment today. Or maybe, speaking out of fatigue and frustration, desensitized to this suffering by one massive need after another, the disciples were simply hoping that ignoring the problem would make it go away. Regardless of their motive, Jesus’ response was a reversal that must have caught them by surprise.
They need not go away. You give them something to eat.
I don’t know about you, but that word brings to me equal amounts of hope and apprehension. On the one hand, we are both empowered and entrusted with the capacity to effect positive change in the world, even against the most dire circumstances. Being the church today means providing the greatest possibility of transformation to the lives of people living in “a deserted place,” when “the hour is late.”
But if we’re honest, we carry doubts that we are the right ones for the job. Might this be too heavy a burden for such weak, fallible hands? Doubts rise:
• “What good will it do to reach out to one person in love, when millions are in need?”
• “What if I do my part, but it still doesn’t seem like enough?”
• “I’m no spiritual giant. What can I do when I have faults of my own?”
• “If I tell my friend about Jesus, what if it falls on deaf ears, or turns him away?”
• “The need is too great. What can one person do?”
It’s in these moments that Matthew would remind us of the punchline at the end, because it’s a doozy. Allow me to paraphrase:
Then, taking these seemingly insignificant efforts, he looks up to heaven, blesses them and breaks them, then gives them out to those in need. Then, surprise! All eat and are filled, and there is more than enough!
In the end, we are left with no excuse but to live out our calling as an agent of hope and possibility in the world.
When we respond to disasters and help those in recovery,
When we invite someone to church and tell them about God’s love,
When we live out our faith in our homes and our work places,
When we join in united prayer for the needs of the world,
When we advocate for the voiceless and point those who are lost homeward,
And when we do so out of a compassion much deeper than pity,
Then the hurting need not go away. We can give them something to eat.
It’s so good 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
Matthew 14:13-21
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’
16 Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’
17 They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’
18 And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’
19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
RAY HAMPTON RETURNS
As part of our ongoing celebration of our 150th anniversary, we are grateful to have Rev. Ray Hampton, who served as my immediate predecessor from 2002-2007, as our guest preacher this Sunday. His wife Rhonda, who served as our choir director, will be offering the special music for the service. On August 17, we observe our official sesquicentennial, with a worship celebration at 9:30 followed by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. We invite those whose last names begin with A-M to bring desserts, and N-Z to bring salads.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
On rare occasions, the gospel writers move from being objective sideline reporters to becoming intuitive mind readers, weaving both the actions of Jesus with his attitudes, and giving us a glimpse into the innermost workings of his mind and heart. One such passage is Matthew’s version of the feeding of the miracle:
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
The original Greek word for compassion literally means “gut-wrenching.” Specifically, it is the word “splanchnidzomai,” and is related to the splanchnic nerve that connects to the stomach. For Jesus, seeing the needs of the crowd was a punch to his gut. His reaction was no mere pity; nor was it simply “feeling sorry for them.” It was visceral and real, twisting his stomach in knots.
It is easy to envision a Jesus who keeps his emotions in check, calmly and steadily aiding the masses with commendable efficiency. But Matthew and Mark are the only gospels to share with us Jesus’ gut-wrenching motive, and it is to illustrate a point. Jesus not only ministered to but also identified with the suffering of the people. They were not anonymous victims, or numbers on a roster, or appointments on a calendar. They were real people, with real stories, and real pain.
Your storm relief team is just hours removed from returning from three days of work in Cedar Rapids. Collectively we put in over 100 hours of work in two residences and a church, removing debris and doing demolition, in the midst of a community shell-shocked by the catastrophic results of last month’s floods. Cedar Rapids alone has lost 5400 homes in only a nine-mile radius, with an estimated 1 billion dollars in total damage. We worked at St. James United Methodist Church, one of three Methodist churches severely damaged by the floods. Of their 125 families, 67 lost their homes, including the parsonage. Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article covering the latest news in Cedar Rapids, including a picture of the street where we were working. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/us/30cedar.html?hp)
In a word, the scene was gut-wrenching.
But Matthew’s feeding story takes a turn toward the unexpected. His is the only gospel to record Jesus’ words to the disciples that utterly undermined their expectations and intentions. After the disciples had tried to give Jesus a reality check, telling him that there was no food and little time to care for this massive need, and encouraging Jesus to cut the people loose to care for themselves, he offered this word:
“They need not go away.”
Perhaps the disciples were simply being pragmatic; we wouldn’t blame them. Perhaps they subscribed to the well-worn conviction that people like this needed to help themselves rather than wait for a hand-out; that’s a popular sentiment today. Or maybe, speaking out of fatigue and frustration, desensitized to this suffering by one massive need after another, the disciples were simply hoping that ignoring the problem would make it go away. Regardless of their motive, Jesus’ response was a reversal that must have caught them by surprise.
They need not go away. You give them something to eat.
I don’t know about you, but that word brings to me equal amounts of hope and apprehension. On the one hand, we are both empowered and entrusted with the capacity to effect positive change in the world, even against the most dire circumstances. Being the church today means providing the greatest possibility of transformation to the lives of people living in “a deserted place,” when “the hour is late.”
But if we’re honest, we carry doubts that we are the right ones for the job. Might this be too heavy a burden for such weak, fallible hands? Doubts rise:
• “What good will it do to reach out to one person in love, when millions are in need?”
• “What if I do my part, but it still doesn’t seem like enough?”
• “I’m no spiritual giant. What can I do when I have faults of my own?”
• “If I tell my friend about Jesus, what if it falls on deaf ears, or turns him away?”
• “The need is too great. What can one person do?”
It’s in these moments that Matthew would remind us of the punchline at the end, because it’s a doozy. Allow me to paraphrase:
Then, taking these seemingly insignificant efforts, he looks up to heaven, blesses them and breaks them, then gives them out to those in need. Then, surprise! All eat and are filled, and there is more than enough!
In the end, we are left with no excuse but to live out our calling as an agent of hope and possibility in the world.
When we respond to disasters and help those in recovery,
When we invite someone to church and tell them about God’s love,
When we live out our faith in our homes and our work places,
When we join in united prayer for the needs of the world,
When we advocate for the voiceless and point those who are lost homeward,
And when we do so out of a compassion much deeper than pity,
Then the hurting need not go away. We can give them something to eat.
It’s so good 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
Matthew 14:13-21
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’
16 Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’
17 They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’
18 And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’
19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
RAY HAMPTON RETURNS
As part of our ongoing celebration of our 150th anniversary, we are grateful to have Rev. Ray Hampton, who served as my immediate predecessor from 2002-2007, as our guest preacher this Sunday. His wife Rhonda, who served as our choir director, will be offering the special music for the service. On August 17, we observe our official sesquicentennial, with a worship celebration at 9:30 followed by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. We invite those whose last names begin with A-M to bring desserts, and N-Z to bring salads.
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