Missionary Renegade: The Normal Heights United Methodist Church - This Week in Worship: A Deserted Place Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 31 July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Normal Heights United Methodist Church - This Week in Worship: A Deserted Place Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 31 July 2014

The Normal Heights United Methodist Church - This Week in Worship: A Deserted Place Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 31 July 2014

What you'll find in this week's email:

Community Life Update

This Week in Worship: A Deserted Place (Matthew 14:13-21)

Pancake Breakfast (8/9, 8:30am)

Family Movie Night (8/9, 7:30pm)

Summer Camp Recap

PHOTO DIRECTORY

We’d love for you to be a part of our new photo directory! We are growing so quickly that it would be really great to have a photo directory in order to better facilitate our community life. So, for the next few weeks we will be taking pictures before and after worship and everyone is welcome! You need not be a member of the church to be included… we want everyone there! Please consider stopping for a quick picture one of these Sundays. A big thanks to Beth Antons for making this happen!

A GIFT FOR TYLER

As you know, Tyler will be soon moving full-time to his creative company, Bradley Mountain. His last Sunday in leadership will be August 10th. Tyler has been with us since the very beginning of this faith movement, and we are looking for ways to show our appreciation for all that he has given us. Well, recently his car was broken into and his guitar was stolen. In light of this event, we were thinking that a new guitar and case would be an appropriate and timely gift! If you would like to show your appreciation to Tyler, we are asking for people to give donations for his new guitar. Donations can be mailed directly to the church care of Tyler’s gift, or you can place a donation in the offering box on Sundays, labeled "Tyler’s Gift". The gift will be presented to him on August 10th during worship. Let’s send Ty off with so much love!

PASTOR BRENT'S VACATION

A reminder that Pastor Brent will be on vacation from Aug 12 - 25th. We are excited to have Robin Wells preaching on Aug 17th and Ben Kierulff preaching on August 24th with Jeremy Ogilvie leading music! Don’t miss it!

Watching all of our fantastic and amazing volunteers these past two weeks at our kids camps has reminded me of my many years of attending Vacation Bible School at churches when I was growing up in Florida. It was always an exciting time. The long summers had gotten boring, the temperatures (and the humidity!) had snuck up into the high 80’s and so the opportunity to do something new and different was warmly welcomed by the time VBS rolled around.

It was also always fun because, as a kid, I got the chance to meet a lot of other kids who didn’t usually go to our church. Vacation Bible School was one of those rare times when the kids who lived in the apartments in the shadow of our church walked over to join in. To me, as the residential class (and church) clown, this was extra great. I had a whole new captive audience to try my jokes and gags out on, and heck, by this point I know which fart jokes really brought down the house (and I still do..).

One year, though, it wasn’t what I expected. Several older kids showed up and while there were laughs to be had, I quickly realized they were all at my expense. Perhaps in my eagerness to impress them with my razor-sharp wit and comedic timing, I inadvertently made myself a target. Have you ever heard a performer refer to a group as a “tough crowd?” Well, the phrase “tough crowd” definitely applied to this family. And not only because they didn’t laugh at my shtick, but also because they were quite literally tough. These kids were absolutely unafraid of pushing, shoving and the occasional punch.

One afternoon, it reached a breaking point. As I began to ignore them and hide from them, it seemed to only antagonize them more, until one of them (a much older girl) finally landed a few solid blows that really hurt. Luckily, one of the adults saw and quickly intervened and removed the girl from the group. The next day was the last day of camp, and none of the kids in that family showed up much, to my great relief.

Sometime later I remember speaking to my parents about what had happened, and of course I was angry, hurt and incredulous that this had happened. (Yes, incredulous… I really was that kind of kid.) I said to my parents something like “Why do mean kids get to go to church?” See, in my mind those kids were rotten. No good. They were the type of kids that a church is supposed to protect me from, right? Not expose me to!

I don’t remember how they explained this next part to me, but I will always remember what I learned from their words. They explained to me that those kids were from a very, very hard home. That their days and nights were not like my days and nights; that they came to the church and brought all of that hardness with them because they had no choice. They couldn’t choose to leave it anywhere else… it was tied to them. But they came because they were probably hoping to find some place that really was different than what they knew at home.

My anger changed, as did my incredulity. Even though I was still angry and upset, knowing the depth of these kids needs and their reality… it changed how I viewed them. But more than that, it changed what was possible in me. In seeing the depth of their need, I found something I didn’t know I had. I found compassion, understanding, and kindness that as a child I did not have previous to that moment or that experience. It didn't make what they did right, by any means; but to know their story and see their need… it changed me.

This week in our Scripture, Jesus sees the depth of need of those around him and it changes him. It changes the disciples as well, as they witness and participate in what happens. And yet, in this miracle of the Feeding of the 5000, all of this happens because Jesus sees people in light of their need of him and this “moves him to compassion.” Perhaps this week the Spirit may be moving and prompting you to have compassion on someone and see them in light of their need. Maybe getting to know someone’s story will change you, and make something possible in you that leads to greater compassion. We’ll see you on Sunday, and if you’d like to read the story beforehand, you can find it here.(Pastor Brent)

MATTHEW 14:13-21

Matthew 14: Supper for Five Thousand

13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.

15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”

16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”

17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.

18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:

Matthew 14:13-21

Verse 13

[13] When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

Jesus withdrew into a desert place — 1. To avoid Herod: 2. Because of the multitude pressing upon him, Mark 6:32: and 3. To talk with his disciples, newly returned from their progress, Luke 9:10: apart - From all but his disciples. John 6:1.

Verse 15

[15] And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

The time is now past — The usual meal time. Mark 6:35; Luke 9:12.

Join us for a FREE pancake breakfast on second Saturdays. The next one is on August 9th, the morning before our Family Movie Night! We will have pancakes, coffee, orange juice, and eggs. Cartoons, coloring, and a kid-friendly environment will be included. Come meet your neighbors and let us cook for you! And don't forget that you're always welcome to bring a friend! We can always use helpers to cook and set up. Contact nancy@NHUnited if you'd like to help!

Our last Family Movie Night of the Summer is coming up on Saturday, August 9th! We could really use some volunteers at the welcome table! This time, we'll be featuring The Lego Movie! Also, don't forget to join us the following Sunday for another exciting message in our Faith Flix series! Partnering with this ministry event is a fantastic way to meet people from the neighborhood, and to let them know who we are!

Our VBS and Kids in Community Day Camps were tons of fun!!! Our church was fortunate to minister to over 60 children who attended our camps. It was a great opportunity to serve our community and show these kids and their families what a welcoming and loving community Normal Heights UMC is. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the huge success of our two day camps with your time and donations! Below are the names of all the fearless and selfless volunteers who gave their time to serve our church and community kids over the past two weeks:

Helen Springer • Mary Cuadras • Beth Antons • Cindy Wasserman • Angela Scott • Lupe Reyes • Peggy Wells • Heather Ross • Star Saint Claire • LuAnn Wherry • Jill Heller • Bryan Rios • Charlotte Esquivel • Nancy Watson • Jen Ogilvie • Kaitlyn Burger • Wanda Smith • Rikk Valdivia • Jameisha Washington • Byron Espinoza • Evie Hensley • Jackie Palmer • Bert Hanlon