A Summer Reading List

June 22, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Read any good books lately?

Publishers would have us believe that this is the season for curling up with a good book for long stretches of time, at a lakeside cabin or a beachside cottage. But as I enter my fourth summer in Iowa, I’ve discovered that I’m much more likely to polish off a good tale during the winter, when it’s single digits outside and there’s a warm fire inside.

Nevertheless, it is always good practice to carve out time for family and rest, and I am making a concerted effort to do so this summer. My wife and I will be spending some time together (without the kids!) for four days this weekend to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary, and then we’ll be spending about four days at her family’s cabin in Minnesota in July. And then, we’ll have about five days in August to visit family in Florida. This means that I’ll be suspending the writing of the Mid-Week Message until July 13, to give myself a bit of a break. And hopefully, this will afford me lots of time to put even a small dent in the tall stack of books that have been calling my name.

In case your wondering, here’s my personal summer reading list, and maybe you’ll find an interest in picking one of these up for yourself.

Humble Leadership: Being Radically Open to God’s Guidance and Grace by N. Graham Standish. Discovering one’s personal leadership style is like searching for a suit that fits just right. Of the many styles I have tried on, I think the one that is most natural and satisfying for me is one that balances personal humility with a commitment to the church’s goals. It is a concept I first learned about in Jim Collins’ Good to Great, but this book fleshes it out more fully and grounds it in Christian practice.

The Passage by Justin Cronin. What would summer be without an epic-length work of fiction? This story of a post-apocalyptic world filled deadly viruses and hungry vampires has been getting good reviews, and hopefully it will satisfy my “thirst” for a vicarious summer thrill.

The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors for Awakening the Sacred Masculine by Matthew Fox. I first discovered Fox in seminary, and he completely changed my perspectives on humanity, sin, grace, and our relationship to the earth. He is an Episcopal priest and a foremost voice on feminist and creation spirituality. In this book Fox turns his attention to redeeming images of masculinity from its cultural deprivations, teaching men what it means to be masculine without being abusive, violent, and mongering.

Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson. Chicago is my absolute favorite megatropolis in the country, and Jessica has been encouraging me to read this for quite sometime. It is a true account of two intriguing men: a serial killer named H. H. Holmes, and Daniel H. Burnham, chief architect of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. From what everyone has told me, this tale is too engrossing and too well-written to pass up.

Preaching from Memory to Hope by Thomas G. Long. When I grow up, I want to preach and write like Tom Long. His latest book focuses on the practice of Christian funerals, which has been a significant part of my ministry here at St. Paul’s. Dr. Long balances sound, rigorous theology with practical applications for ministry, and I’m always looking for ways to improve what I do.

Of course, if you come across a book that you have thoroughly enjoyed, pass me the title! I’m always looking for a good read, and I hope you find your fair share this summer!

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
We are delighted to have Krista Taylor as our guest preacher this Sunday. She is the daughter of former pastor Ray Hampton and his wife Rhonda, and is going to be working as a missionary with Africa Inland Mission and serving the Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. You will have the opportunity to hear more about her upcoming trip and support her with a special offering. Come this Sunday and put God’s love into action around the world.

KIDS AGAINST HUNGER
What a great week we shared with the children at last week’s Vacation Bible School! The children came through with a strong offering to this year’s VBS missions project, Kids Against Hunger. Their contributions totaled $491.00, and we challenged you to match them dollar for dollar. Well, you came through, contributing $548.00, for a total of $1,039.00 That’s enough to feed a nutritious meal to over 4,400 hungry children throughout the world. Great job!

Prayers for Hurting Pastors

June 16, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Last Saturday was the culmination of eight consecutive days of Annual Conference meetings in Iowa and Florida. A friend of mine, commenting on my marathon of church business sessions, asked me, “Exactly which level of Dante’s Inferno would you call that?” Annual Conference gatherings have developed a reputation, perhaps unfairly, as being either stiflingly boring or depressingly divisive. But at their best, these holy conferences spur inspiration and encouragement, reminding us of the value of being connected as United Methodists around the world.

Such valuable moments often occur in the connections that are born and rekindled among the clergy who share their experiences over the previous year. Sometimes, there are joys to celebrate, such as exciting new ministries and joyous family occasions. But often, the stories are more sobering. Some colleagues shared with me the difficulties they have had in the church they are serving. Others were burdened by health concerns, either for themselves or for a loved one. Many bemoaned the harsh effects of a brutal economy, both on their family’s finances and on their church’s ministries. Overall, common themes emerged: loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and fatigue. For so many in the connection, this has been a tough year to be a pastor.

In 2005, researchers Dean Hoge and Jacqueline Wenger published a book titled Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry. Sponsored by Duke Divinity School and the Lily Endowment, their research studied the current state of American clergy, and analyzed why so many ministers were leaving the church. As part of their survey of disgruntled clergy, they asked this question: “How important was each of the following possible reasons why you left your position in local church ministry?” Here were the top four responses:

I felt drained by the demands on me.
I felt lonely or isolated.
I was not supported by denominational officials.
I felt bored or constrained in the position.

I would venture a guess that every pastor, at one point or another in their ministry, has had at least one of these reasons cross their mind. These responses remind me of this Sunday’s Scripture reading, in which a certain clergy person was on the verge of burnout. Elijah had ventured into the wilderness, fearing for his life. Ahab and Jezebel had just placed a death warrant over his head, and he felt abandoned, anxious, and alone. When God came to him to ask why he was hiding, Elijah responded with some of the most visceral, raw, and painful words in the Bible:

I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.

Elijah was at the end of his rope, ready to give up, and walk away from the ministry. If he had been interviewed by researchers Hoge and Wenger, he likely would have concurred with all four of the top reasons to quit, right then and there. But, there was good news for him; even though he was ready to resign, God was not about to give up on him.

God led Moses to a cave on Mt. Horeb, and prepared him for a timely word of encouragement through most unorthodox means. Rather than speaking to Elijah through familiar modes of fire, earthquake, and wind, God chose to speak in a still, small voice, audible only when Elijah head learned to master the silence, and quiet the voices around and within him.

I think there is a message in this story for every discontented clergy, and for the lay people that love them: quiet your heart, and listen carefully. Set aside your tensions and burdens for a moment, and hone in on the very voice that called you into ministry to begin with. For lay people, this is a call to pray words of support and love for clergy, everywhere, who are battling through tough times and troubled hearts.

I know that many of you regularly offer prayers on my behalf, and I am truly heartened and strengthened by them. But if you also wish to pray for those clergy who are struggling and suffering, perhaps you can include the following:

· Pray for those who are crushed by the growing demands of ministry, and doubtful of their abilities to negotiate an ever-expanding set of responsibilities.
· Pray that in moments of weariness and fatigue, they will remember the early days of their ministry, and recapture the excitement of their calling.
· Pray for calm and discernment for those pastors caught in unhealthy power struggles within the congregation.
· Pray for those pastors dealing with bouts of loneliness and isolation, that they may realize what Elijah discovered: they are not truly alone, and there are companions imminently available to them.
· Pray for those struggling with issues of integrity, that they may achieve and maintain the holy standard to which they are called.
· Pray for the emergence of laity and other servant leaders to join them in shared ministry, alleviating a clergy person’s undue burdens.

At the end of the clergy session of the Florida Annual Conference, Bishop Timothy Whitaker enthusiastically declared to us that he was determined to make this the best year of his ministry ever, and implored us all to do the same. His challenge resonated through the halls of the Lakeland Center, and I am stirred by it to this day. And Julius Trimble, Bishop of the Iowa Conference, is fond of repeating his favorite phrase to United Methodist clergy and lay people throughout the state of Iowa: “Be Encouraged.”

As we venture into a new appointment year together, I am newly energized to be your pastor, and grateful for the chance to serve with you in ministry. Let us together hold up in prayer all struggling congregations and their pastors, that they may remember that the same Spirit that was revealed to Elijah in the still, small voice is alive and active in their midst.

Be encouraged, indeed,

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



VBS THIS WEEK
We are well under way with our “High Seas Expedition,” this year’s Vacation Bible School experience. Continue to pray for the children who are experiencing God’s love, and the adults who are offering their time and energy. Join us this Sunday as the children share their songs and their lessons from this exciting week.

Consider the Ravens

June 8, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

When Jessica returned a few weeks ago from a trip to Alaska with Morningside College, she brought me a souvenir. It is a lovely picture of a raven, which I now display on my office desk. Admittedly, the only things I knew about ravens prior to her trip were that Edgar Allan Poe wrote a poem about them and that they were a football team from Baltimore.

She explained that in Alaskan Native spirituality, ravens carry significant meaning. Some mythologies believe that a raven created the world and continues to bring forth daylight. The Kaigani Haida people of southern Alaska claim a story of how a raven one day found and freed some male humans trapped in a clam. It then decided to pair them with female counterparts, thus initiating interactions between men and women and propagating the human race. The Haida believe that since then, the raven has been a protector and provider for all human beings.

Lest you think such stories are too strange to be meaningful, consider the Scriptures. I was looking at my raven picture when I thought about 1 Kings 17. You heard the story last Sunday: an exhausted, starving, and fearful Elijah discovered the healing power of ravens. He had just declared a lengthy drought upon the land and was led by God for isolation in the wilderness. But twice daily, God sent the birds to feed him meat and bread, and provided the fresh water of the river of Cherith. Through the ravens, he received just enough sustenance to make it through every day. Newly strengthened, Elijah emerged from the wilderness ready to do the work of ministry.

If we’re honest, there are many of us who find ourselves in the wilderness in this very moment. We suffer from long, drawn out droughts of loneliness, frustration, grief, and anxiety. It may have been a long, long time since you’ve felt the fresh rains of joy and peace soak through your souls, your spirits, and your relationships. So let the story of Elijah at Cherith remind you that this period of your life can be a blessing, as you learn dependence on God and not on your own means. For take heart: God is sending ravens your way, even if you don’t recognize them.

· Sometimes, they take the form of people who offer you a kind word, a listening ear, or a prayerful spirit.

· Sometimes, they encompass the silent spaces of life, when you hear nothing more than the simultaneous stillness and restlessness of your soul.

· Sometimes, the ravens burst into song, heard through unexpected laughter, sighs of relief, or cathartic lamentation.

· Sometimes, the ravens emerge from within you, enabling you to draw from a previously untapped reserve of courage and strength.

· And at times, the ravens connect you to the rich resources of the faith: Scriptures, hymns, litanies, and sacred writings.

Then consider this: God may wish to use you as a raven for someone else. You may be the very conduit of grace and nourishment for someone else in need. You may not believe that you have the resources or the ability to bring such support and encouragement, but you do. And there may be no better prescription for your personal drought than to get out of yourself and serve.

THIS SUNDAY: THE CASE OF THE SERVANT SHOWDOWN

The next story in our sermon series might as well have been written by a Hollywood screenwriter. Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel has all the elements of a summer blockbuster: drama, suspense, a final battle scene, and dazzling pyrotechnics. But more importantly, it showcases the benefits of trusting in God against all the competing forces of chaos and disharmony throughout the world and in your life. It will not be difficult to imagine the connections between this compelling story and all that is happening in you and around you.

So join us this Sunday for a sermon titled, “The Case of the Servant Showdown.” It’s part of our summer blockbuster sermon series, “God’s Double Agents: The Miraculous Missions of Elijah and Elisha.” May these stories bring you sustenance and encouragement, just as the raven did for Elijah.

Blessed Bird Watching,

Magrey

1 Kings 18:20-24

20 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ The people did not answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred and fifty.

23 Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it.

24 Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.’

MAGREY IN FLORIDA

Having attended the gathering in Des Moines of the Iowa Annual Conference, I am heading to Florida to attend the Florida Annual Conference, of which I am still a member. I will be returning Saturday night, and in the event of an emergency, please contact the church office.

New Summer Blockbuster!

June 1, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

At a gathering of family and friends over the weekend, we took turns sharing stories of our worst job experiences. Among the stories I told was how I applied for my first job, when I was a sophomore in high school.

The local Hungry Howies pizzeria was a few miles from my house in St. Petersburg, Florida, in a tedious stretch of strip stores that included a barber shop and nail salon. When picking up an order for my family one evening, I noticed a “Now Hiring” sign taped to the front counter, hastily scribbled on a torn-off sheet of spiral notebook paper. I had never had a job before, let alone applied for one, but I knew I would need to enter the work force eventually.

I took an application home and studied it. It was fairly standard, with about three inches of blank space for me to offer all the reasons I would make a great employee. I knew that was about 2-7/8 inches too many. I was woefully under qualified for a job making pizzas, but I hoped that my years of culinary training next to my mother in the kitchen had afforded me transferable skills. True, Filipino spring rolls and pancit noodles were a far cry from pepperoni pizzas with buttercheese crusts, but I was determined to present myself to the manager in the best possible light.

So, I decided to compensate with a plethora of school-related achievements. I filled up all three inches, and a good portion of the back, with such information as:

“Maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.”
“Sophomore Class President.”
“First Chair, Bass Clarinetist, Concert Band”
“Member, Chess Club.”
“Numerous Superior Ratings at Solo and Ensemble Competitions.”
“Tenor vocalist in my high school’s touring ensemble.”

I proudly waltzed into Hungry Howies the next day and slid my application across the counter to the manager. After wiping tomato sauce onto his sweat-stained shirt, he picked it up to take a look. Then he looked at me. I confidently gestured the “Call me” sign with an extended thumb and pinky next to my right ear. Without saying a word, he walked toward the boys in the back. Rather than wait for a response, I turned to go out the door, then heard an eruption of laughter from the storage room. I pretty much knew then and there that my aspiring career as a culinary artist at my local pizzeria was over before it started.

There is obviously no reason to pity me, as I eventually landed on the right career track and am doing a job I love. But that wasn’t always the case for some of the most important and underappreciated people in the Bible. Making calzones and delivering pizzas is nothing compared to the job of a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. They were often plucked from obscurity, with no name recognition or impressive skills, in order to carry out the most dangerous missions. They spoke words of truth against powerful people so hard-hearted to receive it and against populations of people too brittle to respond. And, they endured long stretches of loneliness, starvation, and fear for their well-being. Does that sound like a job you’d apply for? Without a doubt, if Jeremiah, Nathan, Ezekiel, or Isaiah were at our house over the weekend, they would have stopped our conversation cold recounting stories of their “worst job ever.”

Yet, they served one of the most vital roles in the entire Bible. They were God’s mouthpieces, offering course corrections for wayward people and wicked rulers. They did so with dazzling demonstrations of power and performance art. They were equal parts street performer, political pundit, hatchet operative, and wordsmith. And their lives serve as examples to us of how to live lives of courage, integrity, and faith, in the midst of dangerous adversaries and troubling times.

For the next eight weeks, we will be studying two of the greatest prophets in the Bible. Elijah and Elisha served concurrently as God’s messengers to the Southern Kingdom of Israel for a total of about thirty years during the 9th Century B.C.E. Elijah confronted the tyrannical rule of Ahab and Jezebel, and together they challenged opposing prophets of foreign gods. Their stories are recorded in First and Second Kings, which often reads like it were straight off the pages of an Ian Fleming spy novel.

So this summer, as you are curling up with a juicy book or are glued to the movie screen for some eye-catching special effects, join us at St. Paul’s for a terrific summer blockbuster we’re calling, “God’s Double Agents: The Miraculous Missions of Elijah and Elisha.” You’ll not want to miss a single action-packed episode!

God’s Double Agents:

The Miraculous Missions of Elijah and Elisha

June 6

“The Case of the Worn-Out Widow”

(The Widow of Zarephath)

1 Kings 17:1-24

June 13

“The Case of the Servant Showdown”

(The Priests of Baal)

1 Kings 18:20-40

June 20

“The Case of the Exhausted Agent”

(Elijah on Mt. Horeb)

1 Kings 19:11-18

June 27

Guest Preacher

Krista Taylor, Daughter of Ray and Rhonda Hampton

Missionaries to Kenya

July 4

“The Case of the Coveted Vineyard”

(Naboth’s Vineyard)

1 Kings 21:1-16

July 11

"The Case of the Fiery Chariot"

(Elijah and Elisha)

2 Kings 2:1-18

July 18

“The Case of the Widow’s Oil”

(Elisha and the Widow)

2 Kings 4:1-7

July 25

“The Case of the Incurable Commander”

(Elisha and Naaman)

2 Kings 5:1-19

August 6

“The Case of the Lost Land”

(The Shunamite Woman)

2 Kings 8:1-15

August 13

Guest Artist

Jill Miller

Contemporary Christian Music Artist

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/

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 6

We begin our summer worship schedule on June 6, with worship starting at 9:30, and Sunday school suspended throughout the summer. Also, Phyllis Parrott will be coordinating sign-ups for after church coffees from June through August. Please contact her to bring in refreshments.

IMPORTANT CHURCH-WIDE MEETING JUNE 6

Following the worship service on June 6, the Building Committee will be giving an important update on the status of the upcoming renovation and capital campaign. You will have the opportunity to give the committee critical feedback that will guide its recommendation later this year.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND

Please pray for your delegates to Annual Conference, which starts this Saturday in Des Moines. In addition to your pastor, Marilyn Brubaker and Mary Jo Carnine will be representing St. Paul’s in important matters for the life of the Iowa Conference.

Save Your Old Shoes!

May 25, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

We have all seen footage of people around the world devastated by poverty, disease, and natural catastrophes. In the face of such tragedies, we often feel too helpless to make any kind of lasting impact. But one thing has been proven time and again: long-term recovery takes place with the sum effect of smaller efforts, joined by people partnering in unison. Together, we can make a difference.

That’s why I was delighted when Sheree Hausmann came to me offering to spearhead a new effort by St. Paul’s. She read about a ministry called Soles 4 Souls, which receives used footwear and delivers them to countries around the world. Every 9 seconds, they give a pair of shoes to someone in need, and they are quickly approaching an astonishing 9 million pairs of shoes distributed.

In case you’re wondering why it’s important for people to wear shoes, particularly in impoverished areas, here’s some compelling evidence:

· In rural areas where people walk through volcanic soil, such as in Ethiopia, going barefoot can lead to podoconiosis, a preventable but disfiguring illness that causes swelling and ulcers in the feet and lower legs.

· Many school-aged children in Africa suffer from a disease called schistosomiasis, caused by parasitic worms in contaminated fresh water. Within weeks, children suffer from fever, chills, and muscle aches.

· About 42% of Nigerian children are infected with tungiasis, caused by fleas which burrow into the bare skin of the sole or toes, and cause gangrene, tetanus, or even death.

· Hookworm is a rampant intestinal parasite that plagues over 1 billion people in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. It causes anemia, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg of all the diseases that can be greatly reduced, simply by wearing a pair of shoes! Just think about it: rather that throwing out an old pair of shoes, bring them to the church, and literally save a life. It’s that simple!

Here’s some frequently asked questions:

What kinds of shoes will they take?
All kinds! Flip-flops, bedroom slippers, athletic shoes, work boots. If it is designed to be worn on the feet, bring them in!

What sizes will they take?
They will take any sized shoe, even for little children.

What if the shoes are in horrible shape?
It doesn’t matter. Even if the shoes are dirty, falling apart, and punctured with holes, Soles 4 Souls can dissemble the shoe and take the usable material to create basic footwear.

What if it’s missing its pair?
It doesn’t matter! Again, this company strongly believes in making use of any kind of shoe that comes in, even if it has lost its “Sole Mate.”

Where do I bring them?
Just bring them to the church. We’ll have a collection box in the narthex where you can drop them off. Periodically, Sheree Hausmann will deliver the shoes to the local collection site in Orange City, where the shoes will be processed and sent out for delivery worldwide.

Will my donation be tax-deductible?
If you’d like, contact the church office and let us know if you’d like your shoes to count toward your financial giving statement. We’ll secure a statement from Soles 4 Souls.

Finally, this will be an ongoing mission project for the church. There will be no timeline or deadline to receive shoes. We’ll continue to take them over the course of the upcoming year. That means that as you continue to clean out your closets, keep the church in mind. We’ll make sure that your contribution makes a big difference.

For more information, visit souls4soles.org.

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
We join with Christians around the world in celebrating Trinity Sunday, and marking the work of the Godhead in our lives. We will also spend our prayer time commemorating Memorial Day, and acknowledging those who have died in service to this country.

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 6
We begin our summer worship schedule on June 6, with worship starting at 9:30, and Sunday school suspended throughout the summer. Also, Phyllis Parrott will be coordinating sign-ups for after church coffees from June through August. Please contact her to bring in refreshments.

IMPORTANT CHURCH-WIDE MEETING JUNE 6
Following the worship service on June 6, the Building Committee will be giving an important update on the status of the upcoming renovation and capital campaign. You will have the opportunity to give the committee critical feedback that will guide its recommendation later this year.

Decision Fatigue vs. Divine Diversity

May 18, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with too many choices? You’re not alone. Satellite dish owners flip through over 1,000 television channels. Sirius/XM radio subscribers can listen to 200 stations. Feel like a pork tenderloin sandwich here in town? Five restaurants sell them. How about ice cream for dessert? Blue Bunny sells 84 different flavors, including 28 varieties of chocolate alone. Then after dinner, brush your teeth, using any one of 26 national brands of toothpaste. After negotiating the daily barrage of choices, it’s a wonder we don’t just collapse into our beds at night. (Firm mattress? Plush? Pillow top? Latex? Innerspring?)

Psychologists have coined the term “decision fatigue” to describe our weariness with too many choices. It emerged from a landmark experiment 25 years ago by Columbia University professor Sheen Iyengar. Dr. Iyengar and her research team invited people to survey two tables of jams. The first display had twenty-four flavors to choose from, and the other had only six. As the team expected, more people were initially intrigued by the group of twenty-four varieties. But when it came time to choose which jam to actually purchase, people preferred to select out of the smaller sample of six jams.

Professor Iyengar said the study “raised the hypothesis that the presence of choice might be appealing as a theory, but in reality, people might find more and more choice to actually be debilitating.” [1]

Debilitating is a strong but appropriate descriptor for what happens when people are paralyzed by a plethora of options. Our defense is to streamline our choices and stick with our decisions with as much consistency as possible. We think that “black and white” seems clear, and that “gray” is too unsettling. As much as we claim to enjoy the freedom of choice, we are just as prone to over-simplification, stripping away any ambiguities and complexities.

It’s one thing when we’re dealing with ice cream and toothpaste. But it’s just as true when it comes to weightier and more consequential matters:

· We approach political decisions with either blind party adherence or single-issue loyalty, rather than thinking for ourselves or embracing the complexity of an issue.
· We subject ourselves to television talk shows that espouse balanced opinions but more often bring in polar opposite viewpoints, often from the extreme right and left.
· We too often assume an “Us vs. Them” mentality, in a number of contexts. We tend to draw circles to define who is “in” and who is “out,” and usually draw those circles around ourselves.
· We reduce our understanding of the Christian faith to a handful of simple, handy platitudes, rather than pushing ourselves to deeper exploration of the mysteries of God.

Against this backdrop of over-simplification, we encounter the story of Pentecost, the Bible’s antidote to decision fatigue. Often, we read this text and move quickly through the unpronounceable names. But work through the list of people carefully. They’re there for a reason:

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’

The text says it clearly: God loves diversity and complexity. When the Spirit touched the earth and the church was born, Luke went to great lengths to describe just how multifaceted and varied the body of Christ is. There would be no room for simple labels, or easy-to-manage categories. The sounds of people speaking in indeterminate languages was a glorious cacophony, the sound of a Spirit that works not in tidy boxes, but with wonder, amazement, and surprise. The advance of the gospel would not be clean, neat, and tidy. It would have to negotiate the intricate nuances of different cultures and the constant flux of changing times. The church’s need for adaptability is as true today as it was then.

Of course, it’s not the only place where the Scriptures embrace complexity. Want to know how the world began? You’ve got different creation stories to choose from in Genesis. Want to know what happens when you die? You’ve got a plethora of perspectives among the Hebrew scriptures, the gospels, and the epistles. And how about learning something about Jesus? Well, for goodness’ sake, you’ve got four different versions to choose from. It should therefore be no surprise to us that when the church was born, God declared that complexity is a divine characteristic. And when we are tempted to settle for easy answers and convenient labels, God challenges us to expand our viewpoints, widen our gaze, and become all-inclusive in our love for others.

This Sunday, join us for the holy day of Pentecost, as we experience the power, imagery, and drama of the arrival of the Holy Spirit. To mark the occasion, we invite you to wear red, the liturgical color of the day. And be sure to come with an expectant heart and open mind, to see what God will reveal to us.

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


[1] “Too Many Choices: A Problem That Can Paralyze.” New York Times, February 26, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/your-money/27shortcuts.html




PEACE POLE DEDICATION
Join us at Sanford Museum Park at 11:45am this Sunday for a brief dedication ceremony for our new Peace Pole. This was a joint project between St. Paul’s and Immaculate Conception Church and is a wonderful testament to peace in our community.

SPECIAL CHURCH-WIDE MEETING JUNE 6
Following the 9:30 worship service on June 6, the Building Committee will be giving an important update on the status of the upcoming renovation and capital campaign. You will have the opportunity to give the committee critical feedback that will guide its recommendation later this year.

SAVE YOUR OLD SHOES!
We are participating in a new community missions project called Soles 4 Souls, which delivers used shoes (of any style or condition) to people in need around the world. You can bring them to church, and Sheree Hausmann will collect them and deliver them to the regional collection site.

RETIREMENT COFFEE
Join the Cherokee school community in congratulating Jan Cook on her retirement, at a reception on Wednesday, May 19, from 3:45-5:00pm at the Washington High School Commons.

Graduation and Ascension

May 11, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

This Sunday afternoon, the Cherokee community will gather at Washington High School to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2010, including eight from our own youth group. We’ll cheer as they walk across the stage, receive their diplomas, and have their tassels turned to signify a new era. I’m certain that the school did not coordinate this weekend’s graduation festivities with the church’s liturgical calendar. But there does seem to be a connection between the commencement addresses typically heard at graduations with the speech that Jesus gave the disciples on the first Ascension Sunday.

Commencement speeches often seize the significance of the moment and challenge the listeners to rise to the occasion. They call the graduates to see themselves as part of a global community, wherein they are part of the solution for the world’s ills. The speakers widen the graduates’ gaze beyond their own social circle, and tell them, in offering their unique gifts and abilities, they can be part of something greater than themselves. Here are some of the more notable ones offered in recent history, and listen for these common elements:

This is the straight truth. The righteous truth. It's not a theory; it's a fact. The fact is that this generation -- yours, my generation -- we're the first generation that can look at poverty and disease, look across the ocean to Africa and say with a straight face, we can be the first to end this stupid extreme poverty, where, in a world of plenty, a child can die for lack of food in it's belly. (Bono, University of Pennsylvania, May 17, 2004)

My good friends, we are all waiting. We are waiting, if not for the Messiah, as such, we are waiting for the messianic moment. And the messianic moment is what each and every one of us tries to build, meaning a certain area of humanity that links us to all those who are human and, therefore, desperately trying to fight despair as humanly as possible and--I hope--with some measure of success. (Elie Wiesel, DePaul University, June 15, 1997)

Whether our world is to be saved from everything that threatens it today depends above all on whether human beings come to their senses, whether they understand the degree of their responsibility and discover a new relationship to the very miracle of being. The world is in the hands of us all. (Vaclav Havel, Harvard University, May, 1995)

And then, there is this speech, offered 2,000 years ago, during a commencement ceremony on a mountain top. Assembled were students of Jesus’ traveling seminary, who had spent more than three years learning, practicing, attempting, failing, and trying again. For this simple band of common people, the world had changed. They were no longer fishermen and tax collectors, they were world-changers-in-the-making. And their time had come. When Jesus stood before them, before he took off into the clouds, he gave his address:

This is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Like all great commencement speeches, Jesus seized the moment. He told the disciples that there were challenges ahead, and that they were to carry the gospel of God’s love to the furthest reaches of the earth, beyond their small social circles. But along the way, they would not be alone, for the Spirit would come upon them. They would receive the Spirit’s power and comfort to achieve great things for the Kingdom, and participate in God’s ongoing project: the healing of the world and redemption of all creation.

This Sunday, we’ll celebrate the lives of these young men and women who forge ahead into an exciting new future. But we will also hear Christ’s commencement address for ourselves, calling us to new commitment and challenge.

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




VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Ahoy, mates! Sign up your children for another exciting Vacation Bible School! “High Seas Expedition” takes place from June 14-18 (please note the correct date; previous announcements were incorrect), 9am-12noon, at a cost of $7 per child (ages 3 through completed 5th grade.) Register this Sunday at the VBS table, or simply drop by the church office. Scholarships are also available for anyone in need. The deadline for registration is now this Monday, May 17.

THE NEW COMMUNITY FLOWER GARDEN AT ST. PAUL’S
Plots are available now and you can sign up by contacting the church office, and you can begin planting your flowers. Help turn a portion of our newly acquired property into the beautiful New Life Gardens of Piety Hill.

LAWNMOWING SIGN-UP
Help keep the north lawn trimmed and clean every week throughout the summer. A sign-up sheet is available outside the church office, and we will provide you with the lawnmower and the gas. For more information, contact Al Henn.