Not Always An Emergency, But Always Important

Columbus' Finest Visit the Epworth Parsonage
Around Midnight

   The first thing I said to the 911 dispatcher on the phone was, "this is a non-emergency call." One night earlier this week we smelled something like natural gas in the hallway of the parsonage and our Carbon Monoxide monitor had gone off for a few seconds. We got the boys up, moved them outside and wanted the experts from Columbus' Fire and Rescue to come check it out. It wasn't an emergency, everyone was OK, but to four Hagans and one puppy, it was important. Those two firetrucks that pulled up in a matter of minutes were exactly what was needed. They were professional, kind, and in the end gave us the all clear. Their beautiful service, acted out throughout the day and night, is offered for those in the midst of emergencies and the rest of us, as well.

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   It is so very similar in our church. People visit. They return. They attend worship and, hopefully, find their way to Sunday School classes and small groups. All of this happens with a destination in mind: we want people going out into the world to serve. We want  every person who gathers with us, either once or often, to engage in our process of growing persons to go out and be great neighbors. The Lord knows the world needs more great neighbors.
   We do not know why a person attends for the first time. Often, we don't know why they return. Further, we don't know if the status of their lives away from Epworth should be termed an emergency or not. It could be. It could be related to work, to school, to children, to parents, to doubt, or success, or any of a thousand things. Or it could be none of them. Some people are just led one day to find a place to connect. To grow. To find their place in a larger story than the one they are living at the time. Whatever brings them, every reason is important.
   This is why our response is so critical. We must open doors for them. Literally. We must open our hearts for them. We must smile. We must learn names, connect stories, and invite them to return. We must know why we are here, and share our stories when the time is right. Paul lists hospitality as one of the required actions of people of faith (Romans 12). We must serve as greeters, ushers, Sunday School teachers, and volunteers with children. Everyone of us must take seriously the challenge to fill up their own buses with passengers headed to the greatest destination imaginable. 
   Grace and Peace to you, Scott

"don't bring a water gun to fight a fire." modern wisdom

   Our own Lieutenant Mike Morris, of the Columbus Fire & EMS, knows better. Each call that comes in requires specific deployment of resources. It is not always so simple, but sometimes the truth is 'the more water the better.'

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   Few of you would be surprised to know we helped over 15+ local and regional missions and ministries with donated items or monies in 2011. Our Epworth Christmas Offering, which brought in over $3600 at the end of the year alone, is just one small measure of the great generosity of this congregation. Each ministry is 'fighting fire on the front lines' to help bring about a Christ-like world, as Bishop James King is fond of saying. However, the question has been raised: could we do more good by narrowing down the number of agencies we help, and thus significantly increase how we help?

   Our Missions Committee is leading is in just that manner. They have selected 4 agencies here locally that we are elevating to being the primary outlets for our service and gifts.

Open Door Community House

Wynnton Neighborhood Network

Our Ministry of Feeding at Rose Hill UMC

Allen Elementary School

   It really goes without saying that each of these groups does amazing, and at the same time, uniquely different work in our community as they serve our neighbors. We want to partner even more with them to serve.

  The other thing about these three agencies, is that each of them would be benefited from the 3 Forms that Missions takes in the local church. Each is connected to our hands:

Using our hands to donate items of specific need

Using our hands to make monetary contributions

Using our hands to build, assemble, and directly help an agency.

   This is going to allow us to focus our efforts and passions at an even greater amount into ministries that are bringing about real change in the lives of our neighbors. This allows us to direct even more "water" onto the fires that we know are around us: poverty, hunger, a lack of connection, and a need to strengthen families. Every other month or so, we're going to lead our congregation, and others that join us, toward hands-on projects that have an infinite capacity for volunteers. This month that will happen on Wednesday, January 25 at 6:45 PM in our Fellowship Hall, as we prepare to-go bags and write prayers for the people who attend the Rose Hill Feeding Ministry our church leads. In March, we'll have a great group walking in the Open Door Walk Classic, as that event moves onto CSU's main campus.

   All of this is very exciting. I want you to commit to being a part of it. Remember, we gather  at Epworth to worship and grow for the purpose of going out to be great neighbors. Grace and Peace, Scott