May 2019
April Memories
Pastor's Note
As we consider (and hopefully experience) peace in worship this month, I commend to you this truly timeless prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
It is one of my favorite prayers and I find it to be as reassuring as it is convicting. I have even tried to develop a habit of praying it every morning (a habit I am still trying hard to form). The prayer acknowledges the difficult, “sowing” work of bringing about peace. While it clearly has an outward focus of how we show love to others, it acknowledges that our peace ultimately comes from God and I believe the first half is as meaningful to pray for ourselves as it is to pray for our work in the world.
As powerful as this prayer may be, the reality is that peace is much easier to speak and pray than it is to live out. Peace especially seems in short supply as social and political divisions are more widely highlighted, as wave after wave of natural disasters and violence hit our world, and even as our denomination experiences tension that will undoubtedly lead to a split.
And yet, as an Easter people, we know our God is a God who creates new things from chaos, who stills storms, and who speaks peace to all of us disciples in whatever part of our journey we find ourselves. It is not a peace that covers over or ignores problems, but rather one that faces them directly and creates a new path forward. I hope we can be a community that allows the peace Jesus established and St. Francis envisioned to grow abundantly in ourselves and out into our world.
At Messy Church this past week we brainstormed some ways we can find such peace, including: taking deep breaths, praying, singing, going outside, asking for a hug, and even jumping on a trampoline (who said finding peace can’t be fun!). I look forward to hearing any other ways you experience and share peace as we all add to and learn from that list. Peace be with you as we all walk that journey together.
Coming Up...
Sunday, May 5
4:30 p.m. Meet at Oak Lawn UMC to serve supper to the homeless at Oak Lawn Community Meal
Tuesday, May 7
7:00 p.m. Knitting Group
Monday, May 13
1:00 p.m. DoveNotes - Join us in the Fellowship Hall to make greeting cards for our homebound members and those on our prayer list - or anybody you know who needs a card! You do not have to be crafty to join us; there is something to do for everyone!
Sunday, May 19
5:00 p.m. Metro District Conference at St. Luke Community UMC (5710 E. RL Thornton Fwy, Dallas 75223)
Monday, May 20
9:00 a.m. District Committee on Ordained Ministry
6:00 p.m. Trustees
7:00 p.m. Administrative Council
Monday, May 27
Memorial Day - church office closed
First Weekend in June
Annual Conference
Pride Parade
Graduation Reception for Grace Robertson
Our very own Grace Robertson will graduate from high school this year! We plan to celebrate her with a reception sometime during May - we will keep you posted on the specifics! Congratulations to Grace for all the hard work she has put in to get to this point!
Guest Preacher
On May 19, Lakewood UMC will be graced with the presence and voice of Haley Feuerbacher. Haley is the Campus Minister at Denton Wesley Foundation, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Religion and Culture at SMU, where she has also taught in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. She has traveled widely and done a lot of work for women’s rights in South Africa. If that weren’t enough, she has co-founded a grassroots movement called Christianity Is a Verb that seeks to encourage the marriage of faith and activism. I (Patrick) had the pleasure of working alongside her for a few months in youth ministry and am grateful to introduce you to her! I hope you are inspired by her passion and warmly welcome her while I am away.
Updates on Judicial Council
Last week, the Judicial Council (essentially the Supreme Court of the UMC) met to consider what aspects of the Traditional Plan passed at General Conference in February might take effect. Because of conflicts with other parts of the Book of Discipline, 8 parts were ruled unconstitutional and will not be included. Nevertheless, that means 8 parts will take effect in 2020, and these include heightened prohibitions on ordaining clergy or bishops who are living in same-sex unions or openly identify as gay or lesbian, minimum penalties for clergy who are brought up on trial for performing same-sex weddings, and a few changes to the complaint process. Additionally, a new disaffiliation plan (way to leave the denomination) was approved and takes effect immediately.
I am still talking with clergy colleagues about what some of this will mean in practice, but even the half of the plan that was passed directly opposes the values of Lakewood United Methodist Church, not to mention the conscience of many faithful pastors and church members. If you would like a more detailed account of what was approved, please email me and I will send you a copy of the best information I have found.
I want to affirm that we are not going to act rashly and will consider the best possible ways to fully live into our mission and values as a local congregation. At the same time, we will not sit idly by and are already working on ways to express faithful dissent to these decisions and set up a way to be the church God has called us to be free from those constraints.
Union Breakfast
Our friends and covenant church partners at Union are hosting their annual fundraising breakfast. It is always an exciting (and surprising) morning of fun celebration. They still have at least 5 tables open, if you would like to purchase a seat.
All-Church Meeting Scheduled
One of those ways we are moving forward to affirm our values and practice of ministry will occur soon. Our church council has commissioned a task force to draft a wedding policy statement indicating that we will host all weddings on our church property. We will have an all-church meeting on June 2 in which you will have an opportunity to read the statement, ask questions, and share the degree to which you consent to this statement. I hope you will be in prayer over this work and your response to it. If you have any questions about this prior to June 2, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and set up a time to meet and talk more about it.
Annual Conference
The North Texas Annual Conference is coming up June 2-4 at Christ UMC in Plano. We have 5 voting members of annual conference representing our church this year - Eva Cherry, Cindy Estee, Becky Heflin, Patrick Littlefield, and Mary Zaby. Especially since this is a tumultuous time in our denomination, I hope that you will keep us in prayer as we discern any matters that come up at Annual Conference. Everyone is welcome to attend conference, including opening worship on Sunday night, the legislative sessions throughout Monday and Tuesday, and the ordination service Tuesday evening, even if you are not a voting member. For more info, visit: https://ntcumc.org/annual-conference-2019
Pride Parade
The 2019 Pride Parade will be held on Sunday, June 2, in Fair Park! If you would like to walk with us and/or help decorate our float, please contact the church office. More details will come soon!
Summer Music Camp
Lakewood is hosting its second Summer Music Camp! Here's what you need to know:
When:
July 15 - 25, Monday - Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Performance on Thursday evening, July 25
Who:
Campers ages 5-12
Counselors ages 13-16
Volunteers any age!
Cost: $300
For more information or to register a camper, contact the church office at (214) 823-9623 or office@mylakewoodchurch.org.
ERT Class
On Saturday, June 8, Grace Avenue UMC (3521 Main Street, Frisco 75034) will host an Emergency Response Training class. They will offer the basic class from 8:30 am to 4 pm, or recertification from 8:30 am to noon. Each class is $15 with lunch provided. Register at ntcumc.org/ert-registration-form.
Happy Birthday to...
Jean Bennett 5/2
Robin Robbins 5/4
Janet Larroca 5/10
Jon Morehouse 5/12
Gloria Sheaner 5/12
Christina Weaver 5/13
Wally Wilson 5/14
Janet DeLee 5/15
Ann Kinkade 5/17
Rick Valadez 5/21
Erin Littlefield 5/23
Barbara Moeller 5/25
Mike Sheaner 5/25
Carlin Morris 5/28
George Freeman 5/29
This Month, We Pray for...
Kathryn Bagley; Gail Baldwin; Lynn Bruce; Carole Bryde; Linda Castor; family of Kevin Colon; Shirley Dunn; Wilma Elrod; Mary Ann Finley; Jean Fowler; Chris Gann; Bonnie Glanville; 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; Ginny Salinas; Beth Saxton; Debbie Schwartz; Jeanne Scroppo; Linda Simmons; Alan Smith; Kelly Smith; Travis Smith; Chris Venable; Betty Watson; Louise Williams
