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There are currently 220 posts.
Radical Hospitality
topics: 1 | posts: 0
Passionate Worship
topics: 3 | posts: 2
Intentional Faith Development
topics: 1 | posts: 1
Risk-Taking Mission & Service
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Extravagant Generosity
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Recent comments on pages throughout the site
88. Practices of Vegetable-ful Congregations!
Judie Johnson-Hawkins wrote on 9/22/2008 6:37:52 PM
Dear Bishop Schnase,
The leadership of UMC Parkview Corporation, Inc. (the only General Board of Global Ministries funded Community Developers Program grantee in Missouri) has embraced The Five Practices. It has provide us with a platform from which we have recommitted the ministry / agency to our refreshed mission (vision) statement of "called to provide RADICAL and RISK-TAKING service to others to transform their lives." As a faith-based agency- Parkview is becoming a leader in the St Louis area for providing faith-based services for substance abuse recovery support, ex-offender reentry and workforce development - as a "middle door" ministry. And now we are taking another "leap of faith" - and launching our FIRST ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN -and our theme is "30 Days of EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY!" Although our 51% of our board / leadership is made up of individual non-United Methodist - we use the Five Practice as on the cornerstone "promising practice" to guide us in growing, stabilizing and sustaining this work.
So as you can ... see we the Five Practices have given us a new breathe of life!
Faithfully Yours,
Judie Johnson-Hawkins
Executive Director
87. Why it Works, and Why it Fails
Kendra Fredrickson wrote on 9/21/2008 6:16:23 PM
As I read this post, I was sure that I would know the "reason the new plan succeeded." I was sure that someone would say that is was because it was according to God's plan. Because we sought God's direction and prayerfully considered how we might join in God's work. Surprisingly, both the reasons given for success and for failure were solely upon the people. Hmmm.
86. From Whom Are You Learning?
Michael D Pope wrote on 9/16/2008 5:48:05 PM
Bishop Schnase, I would like to add another learning opportunity to your blog. The 2nd Annual CMU Clergy Day Apart is scheduled for Monday, October 20th from 9:30 AM until 3:00 PM. Mike Graves, William K. McElvaney Visiting Professor of Preaching and Director of Continuing Education, Saint Paul School of Theology, will be our featured speaker. He will be leading a morning and afternoon session on "Listening to the Listeners: New Directions in Preaching" David P. Atkins, J.D., Executive Director, Missouri United Methodist Foundation, will also be presenting on the topic of "Grants and Scholarships: What is Available in Missouri?" Please refer to the Conference calendar for more information and contact information. Last year we had over 50 UMC pastors from Missouri attend even though the weather was rainy to hear Bishop Schnase present on the 5 Fruits of a healthy congregation. Please join us!
87. Why it Works, and Why it Fails
Michael D Pope wrote on 9/16/2008 5:35:43 PM
Lovett Weems says that it is more important for leaders to ask the right questions than to have the right answers. I believe that Bishop Schnase has just given us two wonderful questions to ask ourselves and our churches before we begin planning for any major ministry initiative. It is important to ask the questions and then listen to the answers that are given. The intersection of the questions and the answers is the direction that we need to take. Let everyone of us who has an ear to hear listen to what the Spirit is saying. Thanks Bishop!
87. Why it Works, and Why it Fails
patty Smith wrote on 9/16/2008 12:04:06 PM
thank you , thank you thank you, we are in the process of those town hall meetings and visioning conversations, of course we have those who see the vision and those who say it is impossible. this article gives me the encouragement I need to continue going forward to help others see that we must be more misssional ( Great Commission) , I must not lose my passion and enthusiasm for the future of these churches, too much is at stake and too many people are being lost. I will share this blog at our next meeting and ask them to imagine Why did it fail? Why did it succeed? again thank you Patty Smith
Katie Dawson wrote on 9/8/2008 1:27:42 PM
I'm thinking together with my congregation about how these five practices can shape the way we do ministry together. Right now we have quite a few isolated programs and committees, rather than a focused sense of what each of these things are for. I'm working on transforming our finance committee into a place for extravagant generosity; our communion team, ushers, and music leadership into a team that focuses on passionate worship; all of our small group and sunday school leaders into a team that can focus on how we have intentional faith development, etc. I think if we can get the teams thinking about the larger practices that inform their ministries, the programs they are doing will flourish.
85. "Do Not Enter on Sunday Before Noon"
Katie Dawson wrote on 9/8/2008 1:21:43 PM
John, I'm thinking about your statement to not conform to the world, but I'm also wondering if Sunday morning worship was at one time conforming to the world.
Sunday is "the Lord's Day" - but is this the result of some other cultural accomodation earlier in our history?
Why limit the times/spaces where people can worship?
Maybe instead we should take our advice from the monastic tradition and a liturgy of the hours (granted, Sunday mass is still a part of those hours).
85. "Do Not Enter on Sunday Before Noon"
John Akins wrote on 9/3/2008 5:44:31 AM
"Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Let's stop looking for ways to "accomadate" the Sunday morning "be elsewhere" crowd. Instead we should be renewing the message of the 1950s "BE IN CHURCH"
85. "Do Not Enter on Sunday Before Noon"
Kamia Taylor - Heart's Haven Manor wrote on 9/2/2008 3:29:15 PM
I remember the days when the church doors in my town were open night and day. If you needed prayer or consultation, it was available whenever you needed it.
If you were to look at most of the churches in my rather rural area, you would begin to believe that the only days you are to worship or study are Sunday before noon, and Wednesday evenings.
There are other outreaches, of course, but why is everyone's Bible Study on Wednesday evening? If I want to visit, I have to choose. I think we should be doing a variety of days and times, like one church I know is, so that we can attract more people when the leading hits them.
85. "Do Not Enter on Sunday Before Noon"
Ronnie G Collin wrote on 9/2/2008 10:34:24 AM
Wow, you are right on target. I think it is time we quit telling people that Sunday morning is the only time to worship and start offering alternative times. Such as Saturday nights. Keep up the great cause.
84. O My Lord, Please Send Someone Else
Cristy Clark wrote on 8/27/2008 4:08:16 PM
Bishop,
Boy do I know what you are talking about. When I first considered taking on the renovation of an old building for the local food pantry, and doing it with only volunteer help, I felt just like Moses at the burning bush. I will be the first to admit that I'm not much of an organizer, being of the temperment to just do the work myself, rather than ask for help, but with God helping me, we managed to put together enough volunteers, and those put in enough hours, to get the old building fixed up, and the new food pantry up and running. I will attest that God certainly gets the glory for this one---so many times I would have given up, but God continued to send me help and encouragement. He obviously wanted this project done.
I really enjoy and am inspired by your blog. Thank you.........Cristy Clark
84. O My Lord, Please Send Someone Else
John Hayes wrote on 8/25/2008 3:01:17 PM
My dear Bishop:
While I have not had the opportunity to formally introduce myself to you; God seems to be adding you to the list of those, who along with my DS, are trying to make clear to me that He has something He wants me to do. Like Samuel who kept checking with Eli to see what he should do I have been dragging my feet about saying "Here am I, use me!"
After all when you have retired twice, what more does He want or expect?
You have been used once again to help God! Thanks!
Theresa Coleman wrote on 8/22/2008 1:35:12 PM
The practice of ministry is rather like the practice of medicine or the practice of teaching -- it is indeed continual. I once had a kid ask me when I was going to stop practicing and start *doing*.
I think I like the word curriculum. It still has implications of the original word in Latin that means "race course." A practice is along a set curriculum -- a practice of ministry is a lifelong curriculum that at the end you can say that we should run the race that God has set before us (Heb 12:1).
I say let's run this marathon together!
Michael D Pope wrote on 8/22/2008 11:55:29 AM
I once heard a trainer who I worked with in a sales organization say: "Practice makes perfect and perfect practice makes perfect performance." I think that his comment helped me realize the difference between just going through the mostions and truly reaching one's potential. We get better as we practice, and we reach our ultimate potential as we practice more perfectly. So, it's not just practicing that makes a difference, although showing up for practice is a big plus, but practicing correctly, regularly and consistently. My prayer is that each of us learns to practice perfectly what God intends for us to achieve individually and collectively. The five practices are also the five functions or intentions of God for the church, which we can never fully achieve because we are always improving as we practice. One can only believe that Olympic stars are born from years of intense and perfect practice. We are Christians but we become more Christian (Christ-like) as we practice the Christian faith, including these five practices! My two cents, Michael
72. Strong Youth Ministries and the Call to Ministry
Rob Grotheer wrote on 8/20/2008 8:53:40 PM
Thank you for your words regarding a strong ministry with youth.
Your article was linked through our conference.
I serve in South Georgia and have been priviledged to serve with youth for many years.
Please keep everyone accountable who relate to youth. And of course, keep praising those who excell.
I am a close friend to Scott and Melissa Bailey-Kirk.
May God continue to lead you in a mighty way.
Rob
Sara Chaney wrote on 8/20/2008 3:09:10 PM
Excellent distinction.
Am teaching the book with two adult classes of different generations mixed together. They are getting acquainted as they answer the conversation questions differently. That the Practices are constant and undergird or even shape the Programs of the church is a helpful distinction for the congregation in knowing how healthy they are and in discerning where they need to grow more deeply. New people are enlightening veteran worshippers and vice-versa. A surprise visit from Rev. David Bennett enhanced our session as he could tell us how his neighboring church practiced hospitality. You've given me a theme for our final session: Identify the programs that successfully accomplish the practices, and once listed, where and how can we become more excellent in our practice? I'll be teaching it with more classes; AND the book enhances the work we are doing with Alban, etc. Thank You!
Lorna wrote on 8/17/2008 1:22:53 PM
My latest thing is to pick up litter. The less litter there is the less litter there is likely to be. That's incentive for me.
I love Luke 15 too. And just wrote my seminary thesis -on church leaving and church returning. It's not enough to keep evangelisingto get bums on seats - we need to disciple people, keep them in fellowship with God and with the rest of the body of Christ.That's my passion
78. Congregation-Wide Initiative NOW AVAILABLE!
Jim Sanders wrote on 8/16/2008 11:51:02 AM
I've received the Focus On kit and am excited about preaching the sermon series -- my first non-lectionary preaching in nine years of pastoral ministry. I'm wondering if there's a resource with music suggestions from the UM Hymnal and The Faith We Sing (similar to the worship planner we use to "steer" our lectionary-centric worship).
After the sermon series, I'm planning to use the five individual studies in succession as a weeknight, charge-wide study.
Thanks for this great resource.
Erin wrote on 8/15/2008 5:43:36 PM
A page with downloadable graphics is now available under the Resources section.
http://5pnet.brickriver.com/detail.asp?pkvalue=281&pageid=17
73. Whatcha’ Reading This Summer?
Sally Haynes wrote on 8/5/2008 5:01:58 PM
Sorry to be late weighing in on this discussion, but I've been off on summer vacation actually doing some reading.
I recommend Death Comes to the Archbishop, by Willa Cather. I hadn't read her since required high school summer reading (My Antonia, anyone?). This book describes the natural beauty of the early days of New Mexico and the surrounding desert. Following the path of the Bishop who is sent to create an episcopal area out of the wilderness, this book tells a powerful story through its simple yet rich imagery and narrative. Surprisingly, I believe this book adds a message to the genre of "church leadership;" Effective leadership must be lived within the framework of a life of persistent faithfulness.
The other substantive book that I have read recently (while sitting at my table at Jurisdictional Conference, I confess) is Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright. It was recommended to me by my much-cooler-than-I-will-ever-be campus minister, Matt Gallion. It's a pretty impressive analysis of death and what happens afterwards. Plus, N.T. Wright has been interviewed about this book on "The Colbert Report," so I know that it is cool in an emergent kind of way.
If you're a mystery fan but hate to stray too far from the office, I recommend Kate Charles' mysteries. They fit into the genre of "ecclesial mysteries" and are excellent.
And now I'll go wish that it was summer vacation again . . .
78. Congregation-Wide Initiative NOW AVAILABLE!
Michael D Pope wrote on 8/4/2008 1:58:26 PM
Bishop my prayers are with you and all the pastors and congregations who will be usinging these resources. God bless you and your leadership efforts in the UMC! Michael
Rev. Steve Bahrt wrote on 8/4/2008 10:05:59 AM
sure would be nice to have some downloadable graphics for in-church promotion of a study of the book.
73. Whatcha’ Reading This Summer?
Paul Catterton wrote on 8/2/2008 10:58:56 PM
Just finished "Next Level" by David Gregory. Great business parable and a pickup on Jim Collin's level 5 leader with a twist to follow Christ and to serve selflessly... worth a look.
Judie Johnson-Hawkins wrote on 8/2/2008 1:36:31 PM
Thank you Bishop for your response and prayers! Just wanted to let you know that after sharing your blog with the two of our staff (Recovery Advocates/Life Coaches) they have named our Friday afternoon men's group "Lost Coins". This group is made up (primarily) of men who are living in the St Louis Release Center. Your "Lost Coins" blog is going to be the focus of the group discussion for at least the next few sessions. Thank you again, for your words of encouragement and your leadership!
Judie Johnson-Hawkins
R Schnase wrote on 8/2/2008 10:56:10 AM
Judie, THANK YOU for sharing about your incredible ministry. Let us know how it goes during the months to come. You are in my prayers.
R Schnase
