Paying Attention To What?

   I rounded the corner of a hallway I have walked through hundreds of times before only to be standing face to face with a wall. It literally was not there the day before. I was walking through the underground hallways of St. Francis hospital when all of the sudden my route changed. I had been in the hospital the day before, but this wall had been erected since I had last passed that way.
   I found myself paying more attention as I walked the rest of my visit there - what else had I missed? What else had changed along the path that had once been routine?
   Later, that same day, I found myself standing in the middle of the Linwood Cemetery waiting for the start of a graveside service. I looked up the hill to see the marker at the burial plot of General Henry Benning, the lawyer and Civil War soldier from Columbus who is the namesake for our city's most famous landmark now. Beyond that marker, in the distance stood the Medical Center. I thought about the juxtaposition of a place that intends to bring healing with a cemetery where loved ones are laid to rest. I thought of the contrasts between the two. I then thought of some similarities, too.
   Finally, riding back from my visits and settling into my routine, I found myself paying attention to some of these thoughts. You could say I was paying attention to what I had been paying attention to. That is when it hit me: I had been missing something all day.
   I've been encouraging each of us to spend some time this Season of Lent in silence. I've asked us to consider turning off some things - televisions, smartphones, music, and distractions - in order to allow God to speak to us in the silence. Silence can allow us to pay closer attention to the ways God is leading us. But, we have to work at it. For all of the attention I had been paying that day to hallways at the hospital or landmarks in downtown, I had failed to listen to the One who gives all these things meaning. Spending time in prayer, meditation, and silence before God requires effort. It is more than just the passing of time. It has the power to heal and to guide. Jesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6) May we spend some time in silence paying attention to the Spirit of God wanting to lead us. Grace and Peace, Scott

An Update from the Building Committee

   The Hallway Renovations will be wrapping up this week and next week. The new and expanded Women's Bathroom is on track to being finished in the next week, also. As the bathroom nears completion, they will be able to put down the carpet tiles in the back. On Monday, March 31, the ceiling tiles and grids from the front will be removed, the walls will be painted, the new ceilings will be installed, and the new baseboards will go in. Because of this, the church office will not be accessible except by phone or email next Monday through Wednesday.
   The Parking Lot plans were signed on Friday and submitted by French and Associates to the City for review and approval. Still on track for starting in early May.

Declaring Independence

   A historic Scottish conversation has resurfaced in the news. It seems that the region is counting down to a September 18 vote on whether or not to secede from Great Britain. While Scots have long desired to be free from English taxes and control - watch "Braveheart" for background - the prevailing wisdom is that the vote for independence will not pass. It seems there are too many questions about what currency they would use, if they could still get the BBC for free in their homes, how much it would cost to start a military, and if they'd be allowed to join the European Union. It will be interesting to see if the Scots vote with their heads or their ancient hearts. {My father, an amateur genealogist for decades now, recently showed me that our family can be directly linked back to Scotland and my 11th great-grandfather, Sir Robert Scott, who was born in 1540, in Perthshire, Scotland. I can only imagine that they were talking about independence from England back then, too!}
   Even more prominent in the news are the stories coming from Southern Ukraine. The tensions are related to a small peninsula at the bottom of Ukraine, known as Crimea, that extends into the Black Sea. The entire land mass is one-fifth the size of our own State of Georgia, yet the world is watching as armies roll out, borders are disregarded, energy assets are taken by force, votes are held, and former superpowers again face off. It was started when Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych's began steering his country back to an alignment with Russia. Important questions abound. Who has the authority to declare independence? Do elected officials or the people have the final say with whom they will align themselves?
   Questions about the authority to declare independence did not originate with nations, though. An independent spirit was first planted in our hearts. Like these countries, there is a lot riding on which choice is made. To whom will we declare our allegiance?
   When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, whom he had never visited, he wanted to lay out a broad understanding of why Jesus Christ needed to live and die for us. For Paul, it all started with our fierce turning away from God. We chose to be independent. We chose to align ourselves with any number of smaller gods. Paul says in Romans 1,

So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

One of the great mysteries of our life and relationship to God is this tension between having been created free by God but also created to follow and be obedient to God. God wants us to choose freely. God wants us to choose God.
   This resonates with me. I am free but also dependent. I am at my best when I freely submit to the God who knows better than I do. God is working for my good if I would just have faith. Oh, that I would consistently vote to be both dependent and free.
   Grace and Peace, Scott

Keeping Score

   We need to keep score. I am not talking about keeping a score of the ways we've been wronged. I am talking about keeping score of the things that have gone right. How do we do that?
   In large indoor arenas, the scoreboard hangs over the very center of playing surface. Fans at a football or basketball game can look up and see who is ahead and how their team is doing putting points on the board. In outdoor stadiums, the scoreboard is on one end of the field, but the score can also be found in other spots, too.

Ted Williams jogging past the Green Monster's scoreboard

   One of the country's most famous sporting venues, Fenway Park in Boston, has the scoreboard integrated into the wall of left-field itself. The scoreboard, added in 1934, forms the lower half of the Green Monster, for its size and color, is still updated by hand from behind the wall throughout the game.
   Is it too late to have a scoreboard installed in the walls of our church during the renovations happening right now? Why, you ask? Because I think keeping score is important.
   Stretch with me here, but I think Jesus even modeled keeping score for his disciples. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out his disciples with specific instructions and specific tasks. They returned telling of what happened while they were out. Luke 10 captures it with, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (see Luke 10) He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Jesus is celebrating the wins they had while they were out being the disciples that he was teaching them to be.
   Andy Stanley teaches that every organization needs to work hard at identifying what a 'win' looks like. We all need to know what it looks like to get it right. I've heard three stories in the last few days of how Epworth is winning:

• Recently one of our teenagers, at a funeral for a loved one, stood in front of the crowd and shared. That is a win.
• A group of 17+ ladies have committed to praying 'around through' things that God is putting in front of them during the Season of Lent. That is a win.
• A regular visitor to worship brings their child to Epworth and trusts our volunteers to help pass on faith to their precious boy. That is a win.

   The truth is, Epworth people are faithful. Epworth people are getting things right. Epworth people are growing. We are putting points on the board, and living out the mission Jesus gave to His followers. Well done, church.
   Grace and Peace, Scott

Finding the Space Needed: Lent

   Construction is about more than just materials and labor. You have to know where to place things, and where to leave spaces in your work for other things to occupy. In last week's meeting, the Epworth Building Committee talked at length about the space above the new ceilings that will soon occupy our hallways. Space is important.
   My mentor, Coach John Wooden, referred frequently to space. He said you could learn a lot about basketball by watching the players without the ball. Good players move well in space - that area where no one else is located. Success in sports is moving in space to be in the right place to score.
   We probably don't consider the importance of space enough. Our lives are filled up. There us no room for space. We cram our days, our cars, our homes, our calendars. Most vacations are so filled up with stuff that people return home tired.
   We must be intentional about space. Creating space requires our attention and our diligence.
    The Season of Lent started this week on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a forty day period, excluding Sundays, during which disciples of Jesus Christ prepare themselves spiritually for the remembrance of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection.  The name is derived from the Old English, lengten, a reference to the lengthening of the days in the spring. Beginning in the second century, Christians would undergo a brief period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. The number forty corresponds to the many key moments of space in the Bible. Such moments can bring much needed space between the demands and the 'doing' of life. This season is a time for more intense and intentional spiritual growth during which we remember the message, the life, the suffering and death of Christ.
   In the tradition of the ancient church, I am inviting Epworth people to do three things this Lent:
1.  Be in worship every weekend you are in town.
2.  Give up something as a fast and expression of your faith and identification with Jesus' suffering.
3.  Be quiet. Join the whole church in spending a few minutes each day with the sound off. Instead, listen to the leading of God through prayer and simple meditation.
   I need some more space; not to get away from people or responsibilities. I need more space to get closer to the best stuff of life. May Lent be a holy time to find the space between for all of us.
   Grace and Peace, Scott

A Unique Version of the Mission Given by Jesus

   The liturgy of Holy Communion reaches a pinnacle with the proclamation, "Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again." This is the church retelling the story of Jesus. The greatest story ever lived. The story that changed everything.
   In the middle of the story of Jesus, between Jesus is Risen and Jesus coming again, the Bible recounts the scene where Jesus is departing from his disciples to ascend into heaven. He gives them final words and a mission for them to carry out while he is gone. Actually, the Bible includes three different versions of this same moment in history. They are:

• Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
• Luke 16:15 - And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.
• Acts 1:8 - 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." 

Our Epworth Vision Team read these verses and the surrounding passages this past week. I was reminded in the moment of a truth about the mission of the church: there is one mission, but it has always been restated in unique ways depending on the audience and setting. The mission is to live as witnesses to the world of the love of God found in the life of Jesus Christ. That mission changes for every congregation and every generation. Our Vision Team is moving toward capturing what this mission looks like for us right now. Continue to pray for the twelve Epworth people who are submitting to God through this exciting process.
   Grace and Peace, Scott

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Open Door Classic - Walk and 5k Run - March 8, 2014

Featuring a Fun Walk, 5k run, live music, and a hot meal for a small donation.

Uptown at the Synovus Center Courtyard along the Uptown Columbus Riverwalk. Parking is available at downtown parking garages. The 5K registration starts at 7:30 AM and the race starts at 8:00 AM. The Walk registration starts at 8:30 AM and the walk starts at 9:00 AM. Sign up on the Fellowship Hall door with Scott.

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Announcing a special Night of Music and Dinner

A Night of the Best Songs Ever with Bob Lee, Andy Unger, And Friends

On Saturday, March 22 at 6:00 pm. Catered by Country’s BBQ, and featuring songs from across the years, all for only $12 to support missions through the United Methodist Men. 

Limited Seating, so sign up at by March 10 to hold a space.

Jesus, Epworth.............Preacher

    The Hagans were away this past weekend from worship. We drove up to the western edge of North Carolina for the school-holiday weekend. As you can imagine, there was lots of snow, ice, and snowball throwing among the boys in the group. The cabin where we stayed is located more than two miles into a valley of the Cullasaja River and reached only after driving the last two miles on a steep, narrow gravel trail - not fit in some places for horses who surely traveled it years ago. That part was an adventure.
   On Sunday, I was wishing I could be in two places at once. I wanted to be at Epworth to hear my friend, Sara Bankhead, speak on UMW and commitment. I have long appreciated her leadership at Open Door as a Board member and her leadership in the South Georgia Conference.

   On Monday, I received the weekly email that lists all of the new and regular visitors who were in worship at Epworth this week. This really helpful document is compiled from Connection Cards, and direct recollection when visitors don't fill one out, by Suzy Revell and then emailed out to our Church Council. It helps all of us connect names and faces. It does more than that, though. It helps spread out the work of welcoming people to Epworth. We want the ministry of following up with visitors to be a work of the people, not just the pastor or one layperson. 

   Missing out on those visitors made me think through one really important question. It is one all of us should ask; "What do we want to happen when people visit?"
   First, we want people to be able to worship the one true God. The God who made us and loves us and sent Jesus as the way to a better life. This is the stuff of salvation and abundant life; read the Third or Tenth chapter of John's Gospel. But, what is second?
   We want people who visit Epworth to fall in love.
   We want visitors (and members who might have attended for years) to fall in love with Jesus. Then, we want them to fall in love with Epworth as the place to stay in love with Jesus - another way of saying "live out their life as a disciple." Finally, it would be okay for them to like the preacher. It's the order that is important. Jesus is forever. Epworth will be around for a long time. Preachers come and go. I want to stay for years, and I plan to. But, the most important person any visitor will meet on Sundays at Epworth is Jesus. And, Epworth people help make that happen every week.
   Grace and Peace, Scott

When Change Is Not Needed: Words That Last

   We all need change. On some level, we like change. Think about it; we would never finish school, date, get married, move, change jobs, have kids, or retire, if there was nothing about change that we appreciated. Change is good. 
   We also appreciate things staying the same. For as much good and value that can be found in the short list of changes from above, there is something deeply comforting about the things in life that stay the same. People who are consistent in a good way. Places that don't change much over time and, thereby, bring back wonderful memories of days gone by. 
   All of us would agree that we find ourselves in a world inundated with change. However, it is nice to come across little examples of things staying the same to be reminded that some great things don't change much. I am thinking of the welcome of an old friend, the taste of a favorite recipe, the subtle details of a famous work of art, or the soothing tones of a classic piece of music.
   This week, one of my classmates pointed out another little example of things staying wonderfully consistent and true over time. We are studying the writings of Paul, the early apostle to the Gentiles whose stories in Acts and letters through the New Testament combine to give the Church a divine perspective on God's work in the lives of the early Christians. Paul is brilliant and controversial. He said some things that don't apply anymore: rules on women's roles in worship and opinions on slavery immediately come to mind. However flawed he was, he was faithful and tireless in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. He was also consistent on the things that matter the most.

   One of the most beloved passages Paul ever wrote concludes the 'love chapter' in 1 Corinthians 13. He says faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these is love. That letter was written late in his life. But, did you know those words appear in his works at the very beginning? We are convinced that the first Christian writing ever written was Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians), probably written in 48 AD. Notice the third verse of how it starts:

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. 2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

   Faith, Hope and Love. They are at the beginning of his ministry and at the end. They remain, indeed. My prayer is that the same can be said of us. Each of us as persons and of our church, as well. Things change, but some of the best things can stay the same. Let us live with faith, never lose hope, and love God and each other like Jesus did. Grace and Peace, Scott

God is Building Something Great

   What a week we've had. Epworth was blessed on Sunday to hear a report from Janet Cheraisi on her trip back to Kenya in December. While there visiting family, Janet presented her home church, the Sugatek African Inland Church, with Epworth's gift from our October Mission Focus for their construction efforts. Her report was that our gift would help purchase 16 windows for their sanctuary to be enclosed as well as build the first parsonage for their pastor. It was a powerful moment for me to think of what this partnership already means to God's Kingdom across the world. Let us pray for more opportunities to partner in what God is doing in Kenya.
   Then on Monday, our Church Conference voted unanimously to approve the two projects presented by the Building Committee. Fifty-nine persons were in attendance, and the Committee received good feedback and fielded good questions around these projects and others that are being considered for the future. Renovations on the interior hallways will begin in the next two weeks, with Rolling Construction serving as general contractor for this project. In regards to the parking expansion, French and Associates are preparing designs and plans for City approval with early May as the estimate for construction to begin with McMath-Turner doing the work. We will keep you updated about progress throughout using the weekly bulletin, weekly emails, and any means necessary to keep everyone on the same page about detours and the state of the building, including any issues that might affect persons (dust and air-quality, etc).
   The Church Conference also received word that as of Friday, January 31, all of the funds from the merger of the Hamp Stevens Memorial UMC with Epworth in the summer of 2006, previously held by the Columbus District, were transferred by Dr. Buddy Cooper into Epworth's Building Fund. This is truly a cause for celebration.

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   Far beyond parking lots and great hallways, Epworth has always been about building up God's people. This work could be clearly seen on Tuesday night as Andy and I gathered with sixteen young people to begin the journey of Confirmation. With leadership from a small group who've been confirmed before, our young people are learning about God's love, God's history, and God's best desires for our futures. Be in prayer for these young people from now through Confirmation Sunday, April 27, and beyond.

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   We are committed to building up people beyond the walls of our church. This happens through our efforts in our community. Please consider our Mission Focus for February. We will be collecting the following items in February for those homeless persons in Columbus that are served by Rose Hill UMC. You can help by donating 1) socks & underwear for women and men, 2)  deodorant, and 3) hair products for African-Americans. Then, mark your calendars for the Open Door Classic on March 8, at the Synovus Center Courtyard along the Uptown Columbus Riverwalk. I want to be joined by 40 Epworth folks this year for this fun event: either a walk or 5K Run.
   Grace and Peace, Scott