Pastor's Note
This week, representatives from the United Methodist Church met for a special conference to try to vote on a way forward regarding the deep division across the church about LGBTQ inclusion. It turned out to be a very bad meeting.
To be sure, there were good moments – when JJ Warren, an openly gay candidate for ministry, gave a stirring speech about the inclusive values of the church and the home he hopes to find in it; or when more than 15,000 young people around the country signed a petition overnight disavowing a plan that would discriminate and punish LGBTQ pastors, allies, and seek to limit our ability to love LGBTQ neighbors.
Unfortunately, even with a clear lack of support from majorities of Methodists around the country, that discriminatory plan was passed by the voting members of the conference. It is a plan that directly contradicts the Bible, God’s love, and the current governing policies of the United Methodist Church. Most, if not all, of this plan will not become effective because of these contradictions.
Nevertheless, a message of bigotry was shouted into our world by an institution that I have been ordained into and many have found a home in. And that is not ok. That breaks my heart and has already deeply wounded many whom I consider friends and colleagues and whom you consider family.
I want to be clear that I disagree with any message of hate or discrimination against the LGBTQ community, and I know Lakewood UMC does too. I stand boldly with many other Christians in celebrating all marriages as sacred unions, working toward affirming LGBTQ candidates for ordination, and overall supporting the leadership, faithful witness, and inherent value of LGBTQ persons. I also know that already many parts of the United Methodist institution have clearly stated similar support – from our seminaries and affiliated universities to the General Board of Church and Society to several jurisdictions and conferences.
Much remains to be seen as to what the United Methodist Church will look like in the coming months and years. I assure you that Lakewood UMC and I will continue to speak and live out our values of reconciliation and justice, especially as it involves making sure our LGBTQ brothers and sisters are able to fully be themselves in our congregation and to encounter the true love of God through our community.
Right now, many of us are mourning and collecting ourselves. Tomorrow will begin a process of determining what structures and resources will best allow us to live out our values. And the day after that, and the day after that, we will continue to be a church family that loves in word and deed.
Finally, I want to be clear about what is faithfully heroic in all this. The heroes are not those who won a vote (and would not have been even if that vote went a different way). The heroes are the LGBTQ persons who have shown a strength of heart through years of discrimination and bigotry and hate. You are loved and lovely. And I think we can join their heroic work in finding all the ways we can continue to show real, divine love to the LGBTQ people in our lives and neighborhood.
I hope you will join in worship this Sunday as we express some of that grief and look with hope to the freedom God brings, a Spirit-inspired freedom that leads us deeper into the glory of God’s grace and empowers us to act in great boldness and not lose heart. Then, I hope you will join us for Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, not only to repent of the real harm our denomination has done this week, but also to find the healing presence of God – a healing presence that brings life from dust, hope from despair, love from hate, and life from death.
Coming Up...
Saturday, March 2
6:30 p.m. Choir Fundraiser Dinner
Sunday, March 3
4:30 p.m. Arrive at Oak Lawn UMC to serve Sunday supper to the homeless for Oak Lawn Community Meal
Monday, March 4
7:00 p.m. Church and Society Presentation (see below)
Tuesday, March 5
6:00 p.m. Young Lives
7:00 p.m. Knitting Group
Wednesday, March 6
7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Thursday, March 7
7:00 p.m. Linden Grove Theater performance (see below)
Friday, March 8
7:00 p.m. Linden Grove Theater performance (see below)
Saturday, March 9
7:00 p.m. Linden Grove Theater performance (see below)
Sunday, March 10
Daylight Saving Time begins - please remember, before you go to bed on Saturday, to set your clocks forward one hour
11:30 a.m. Charge Conference (see below)
1:00 p.m. Lent Study begins
2:00 p.m. Linden Grove Theater performance (see below)
Monday, March 11
7:00 p.m. Finance Committee
Monday, March 18
6:00 p.m. Trustees
7:00 p.m. Administrative Council
Tuesday, March 19
6:00 p.m. Young Lives
Church and Society Presentation
On Monday, March 4, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., Heather Mustain, a minister at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, will speak about the experiences of the Wilshire Church in the areas of mission and advocacy. Heather will talk about resources, training, and practical ways that we as Christians can be a voice for love and justice at local, state, and national levels. All are welcome to join us in the Harmony classroom for this event, to listen, participate, and enjoy light refreshments. 4
Charge Conference
On Sunday, March 10, immediately following worship (around 11:30 a.m.), Lakewood will hold a special Charge Conference to elect new members to the board of the Lakewood UMC Foundation. All members of the church are welcome to be in attendance and to vote on this new leadership.
Linden Grove Theater
The Linden Grove Theater Company will perform a play in our Youth Room! They have been rehearsing since January and are so excited to share their hard work with us and with the community. Performances will be March 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 p.m. and March 10 at 2:00 p.m. You can buy tickets at thelindengrovetheaterco.com/store.
Lent Study
What does the Bible teach us about how humans should treat the earth? Could the land itself be an important character in the Bible? How can we better see God reflected in all of nature? Join us for a special 6-week study during the season of Lent, Sundays March 10-April 14 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This year we will explore biblical stories including the creation story in Genesis, the Israelite’s time in the wilderness, the prophets who speak out for the land with agrarian images, and Jesus’s interaction with the land and nature-based parables, among others. In doing so, we will learn more deeply how all of creation is God’s good work and how we are called to live in covenant with our earthly home. Not only will these stories prepare us to better understand the salvation of all creation that we celebrate at Easter, but they will also prepare us for Earth Day, which is the day after Easter this year!
Messy Change
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for your support of our Messy Change collection! We have collected so much spare change that the jar is difficult to lift and we are so grateful for the way that this collection will help us engage in ministry with the children in our church and in the neighborhood. We are excited to put this change to good use as we continue Messy Church. If you have more spare change to share with us, just bring it by the office whenever you are able.
Bring Us Your Coke Bottle Caps!
Did you know there is a code on the bottle cap of your Coke products? We have discovered that we can use these codes to support Rogers Elementary! Eva in the church office is now a pro at entering the codes online, so really the only work you have to do is drink some cokes and save your bottle caps. Bring them to the church office and Eva will take care of the rest. Each code is worth 5 cents to be donated to Rogers, and Lakewood has already managed to donate over $25! Thank you for helping us give to the students and teachers at Rogers.
Happy Birthday to...
Gail Baldwin 3/5
Jordan Frank 3/5
Tommy Robbins 3/12
Jo Ann Biggs 3/19
Betty Watson 3/20
Si Henson 3/22
Josh Neuroth 3/28
Jennifer McLaughlin 3/29
This Month, We Pray for...
Kathryn Bagley; Gail Baldwin; Lynn Bruce; Carole Bryde; Linda Castor; the family of Wayne Croy; the family of Alice DeLaughter; Shirley Dunn; Wilma Elrod; Mary Ann Finley; Jean Fowler; Leck and Cynthia Heflin; Michael Hilley; Harold Logan; Jan Logan; Carolyn Miracle; Marie Miranda; Mike Miranda; Tim Miranda; Pat Norvell; Jorge Ortiz; Brandon Owen; Tracy Penfield; Pontis Ministries; the family of Susan Price; Kathy Purvis; David Rentz; Michelle Ried; Shelly Robertson; Elizabeth Robbins; Robin Robbins; Dillon Rosten; Ginny Salinas; Beth Saxton; Debbie Schwartz; Jeanne Scroppo; Linda Simmons; Alan Smith; Kelly Smith; Travis Smith; Chris Venable; Betty Watson; the family of Melba Westbrook; Louise Williams