The Last Chapter, and the Next One

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It’s been two months since my last Sunday at Munger; tomorrow is my first Sunday at Asbury.

It’s been a strange summer, as I’ve not felt I really belonged anywhere, that I was neither fish nor fowl, so to speak.

So, it will feel good to get started tomorrow morning.

But before this next chapter begins, I want to put a pin in my memories of that last Munger Sunday.

 
 

That last Sunday (June 5, 2022) was golden; it was perfect, just perfect. And though there were tears, the entire morning was just filled with gratitude and joy—the Lord has been so good to us.

Right as the first song began, I came under the tent to the front row where my son Jack was sitting and I was shocked to see my son’s great friend Austin standing there. I immediately started crying. Austin lives in another part of Dallas and his family doesn’t go to Munger, but the friendship between Austin and Jack since Kindergarten has been really sweet. And something about seeing Austin’s blond head there as we were all singing felt like a foretaste of glory—surprised by joy.

So, let this post serve as an ebenezer: God is good(er).

 
 

My Last Munger Sermon - “The Last Chapter”

Though it was certainly not my best sermon, I’m proud of my last Munger sermon—I really believe in what I said, and I’ve heard from several folks over the summer how my bottom line has been helpful to them, facing the loss of a loved one or inexplicable difficulty or even life change:

 
“In the End, everything will be okay;
If it’s not okay, then it’s not the End;
And if it’s not the End, the Lord still has work for us to do.”
 

My family joined me on stage and I love how in the video you can see me and my son Jack crying against each other and the staff huddled around as Jake and Rodney pray over us.

 
 
 

That entire last weekend was just so special and I never want to forget it. So, below are some pics and videos from our last Munger weekend, including a bunch that I was able to take from the stage, both during rehearsal and during the service itself.

[Note: If you are reading this in your email inbox, it might be easier to view the videos if you click over and read this post on my blog, as the videos are all embedded there.]

 
 

That Last Week

 
 

Jackie and I getting ready to lead our very last online morning prayer session live from White Rock Lake in East Dallas. I loved those mornings so much—such a sweet gift to be able to have him join me.

 
 
 

Our neighborhood changed a lot over the years in which we lived there—most of the changes were for the good, though of course not all of them.

 
 
 

Empty office.

 
 
 

Empty house.

 
 

Saturday Rehearsal

Some of my favorite Munger memories were our outdoor Easter services, under the big tent in Garrett Park, but we hadn’t held any of those since before the pandemic, and when my colleague Melissa suggested we have one big service for my family’s last Sunday, I was all for it.

One of the things I loved most about Munger was walking around while our band was rehearsing. So I made a point to walk over to Garrett Park on Saturday just to hear and see—so glad I brought my phone with me.

Don’t skip the videos—they are short (all less than a minute) and so so great. So much joy!

[Again, if you are one of my newsletter subscribers, it will be easier to view the videos by reading this post on my blog itself.]

 
 

I took this pic as I walked over to Garrett Park on Saturday for rehearsal. Thank you, Lord, for Munger in my life.

 
 
 

I couldn’t help singing along: “Let your love flow….”

 
 
 

Love hearing the trombone and the guitars working together.

 
 
 

Wait for the song to drop: “Let the light from the lighthouse….”

 
 
 
 

That Last Sunday

I got up early that last Sunday and went for a walk in the dark up Swiss Avenue, as I’d done thousands of times before. I loved that time in the dark, totally alone, walking and thinking over my sermon for the day.

 
 

How many miles have I walked up those beautiful blocks? We were so fortunate to have lived there.

 
 
 

I love this song and whenever I hear it in the future I’ll think of our band warming up that last Munger Sunday.

 
 
 

Oh man. At 10 seconds Kelly Riley drops in with the chorus. He’s the best and this was so fun!

 
 
 

Speaking of fun, this was the last song the band played before the service began: “Oh When the Saints….” Love love love the trombone.

 
 
 

I love the simplicity of this song:

“For God so loved the world that he gave us

His one and only Son to save us….”

 
 
 

Amen. How great to hear the entire congregation gathered singing:

“Oh there’s nothing better than you….”

 
 
 

“Because He Lives” brings back so many memories of our Munger Easter services under the tent over the years. Grateful we got to sing it one last time together.

 
 

Last Munger Sunday - Recap Video

Some Munger folks made this re-cap video for me of that last Sunday. Such a special gift.

 
 
 

Goodbye House, Goodbye Church, Goodbye Neighborhood

We left Texas the afternoon of our last Sunday and made the drive to Tulsa. It just seemed right to finish our final service, say goodbye, and hit the road.

 
 

We loved our old hundred-year-old house so much. Our children never knew anyplace different. It was good to us.

 
 
 

No one could have been kinder to us than our sweet neighbors whom we love so much—they were our grandparents-across-the-street. One last swing on the rope swing in their front yard.

 
 
 

We came over and prayed in the church one last time, all by ourselves. I’ll never stop being grateful for our time at Munger.

 
 
 

No keys on my keyring!

 
 

The Next Chapter Begins

So, after the last chapter, the next one begins: tomorrow is our first Sunday at our new church.

And the folks here cannot have been kinder. Asbury has a billboard contract around the city and, just as they had a campaign to honor the Rev. Tom Harrison, my predecessor who retired after 29 years at Asbury, they started a new one to welcome me! My wife can’t stop making fun of me for it.

 
 

But remember, what goes around comes around. Elaine made fun of me for my billboard, and then this happened:

She and the kids were uniform-shopping for school this week when a photographer came up and took their picture. Guess who was on the front page of the Tulsa World this past Friday morning?!

 

“The Tulsa World.” Friday, August 5, 2022.

 

The poor people of Tulsa can’t get away from us.

 
 

“Live From Tulsa It’s Sunday Morning!”

Tomorrow morning we’re having only one service at Asbury, 10:00 AM CDT. I know there are a bunch of Texans in town to support our family on our first Sunday and it will be so nice to see some familiar faces in the congregation—be sure to get to church early.

I also know there are lots of folks praying for us who won’t be there. Now, some of you know my glib little phrase about online church:

“online church isn’t.”

I say that because I think it’s really important that we gather in person as the people of God. However I also know that lots of folks who wish they could be there live far away. Our parents, e.g., will be tuning into the livestream tomorrow.

So here is the livestream info for Asbury:

There are three different options.

  1. www.asburytulsa.org. Click on “Watch Live” on the main page.

  2. Facebook: the “Asbury Tulsa” page.

  3. YouTube: the “Asbury Tulsa” channel.

The feed will go live a good amount of time before the hour, so tune in early.

 
 

Alright, Fast Eddie

Tomorrow starts a new chapter in my family’s life. A year ago none of this would have seemed remotely likely to me, which leads me to conclude that the Lord has brought us here for a reason.

 

So tomorrow morning, right before I walk into the Asbury Sanctuary for the first time I’m going to look at myself in the mirror and say: Alright Fast Eddie, let’s play some pool.

 
 

This Video Broke My Heart All Over Again

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This video just broke my heart all over again.

I haven’t been able to write about my last Munger Sunday—already two weeks ago!—and I’ll have more to say soon. But this afternoon someone surprised me with this beautiful highlight video from that day and as my little daughter and I watched it, we started crying all over again.

That last Sunday and those last 12 years were sweet beyond measure, and I am so grateful to have been able to share that time with the people we loved so much.

 
 
 

God Is Good(er)

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The most evil idea in the world is the idea that God cannot be trusted, that God isn’t good.

And it is in direct opposition to that destructive idea that Jesus performed the miracle at the Wedding of Cana.

Want to know what the water-into-wine miracle means?

It means that God is Good(er).

Preacher: Andrew Forrest
Scripture: John 2:1-11; Isaiah 25:6-7

 
 
 
 
“BUT IDEAS AND IMAGES are also a primary stronghold of evil in the human self and in society. They determine how we ‘take’ the things and events of ordinary life. They control the meanings we assign to what we deal with, and they can even blind us to what lies plainly before us. Again, this is seen over and over in biblical and in Christian history, and in human life generally. Their power for evil cannot be overestimated and is constantly at play in most human governments.

Ideas and images are, accordingly, the primary focus of Satan’s efforts to defeat God’s purposes with and for humankind. When we are subject to his chosen ideas and images, he can take a nap or a holiday. Thus when he undertook to draw Eve away from God, he did not hit her with a stick, but with an idea. It was with the idea that God could not be trusted and that she must act on her own to secure her own well-being.

This is the basic idea back of all temptation: God is presented as depriving us by his commands of what is good, so we think we must take matters into our own hands and act contrary to what he has said. This image of God leads to our pushing him out of our thoughts… and putting ourselves on the throne of the universe. The condition of the ruined soul and world naturally results. The single most important thing in our mind is our idea of God….”
— from Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, by Dallas Willard (p. 99)
 

Please Don't Listen to This Sermon

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Keep your ears stopped.
Shut your eyes tight.
Make your necks stiff.
And harden your hearts.
For:
If you hear and see,
If you receive and obey,
This message will bring life abundant.

Do you have ears? Use them.

(Reflections on the Parable of the Sower.)

Series: Gospel of Mark (2022)
Scripture: Mark 4:1-25
Date: Sunday, March 13, 2022

 
 

After 12 Years, I'll Be Leaving Munger This Summer

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Dear Friends,

After 12 years, I will be leaving Munger this summer; my last Sunday will be Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022.

As of July 1, I will become the senior pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I know this news hits you out of nowhere, so here’s what I want you to know: My wife Elaine and I feel as if the Lord is asking us to leave Munger and our home here in Texas and go to Asbury and Oklahoma.  And we believe that this move is the faithful next step God is asking us to take, as difficult as it may be.

You have loved us extravagantly for 12 years, and we’ve been extravagantly happy at Munger!  I preached this past Sunday about letting go of clarity and choosing trust, and that sermon came out of my own struggles to let go of the people and the place we love so much.  But, I know that God has good things for all of us—we just need to trust.

Asbury is an amazing church, and even with my limited perspective I can see that my gifts and Asbury’s gifts have the potential to make a great partnership.  God is good, and I am excited and grateful that the Lord has plans to use me in a new city.

I am also grateful that Highland Park United Methodist Church had the vision to start a new campus in an old church building in East Dallas and that I was invited to be a part of that plan.  The people of HPUMC gave sacrificially to make that vision happen, and I’ve personally seen the gospel change lives at Munger as a result.  I will never stop being grateful for that vision and generosity.

Yet our family is grieving like crazy because we love you so much; and precisely because we love you so much, we know we must be faithful to what we believe the Lord is asking us to do—anything less would be a betrayal of the love and trust you have in us.

As far as who will be the next pastor at Munger, let me briefly sketch how our system works: Munger is a campus of Highland Park UMC, and I am an associate pastor “appointed” to Highland Park United Methodist Church, and so it will be up to the Rev. Paul Rasmussen, senior minister at Highland Park UMC, and Bishop Mike McKee of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church to determine whom to send to Munger.  Be praying for Paul and the Bishop.

We’ll have the next four months to grieve and give thanks together, and then we’ll be parted for a little while until we’re all reunited together forever.

We have work to do, and each day we get is a gift from God.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  [Romans 14:8]

Can’t wait to see you Sunday.

Your friend,

Andrew

 

Why I Will Never Again Cancel Worship* (for Weather or Otherwise)

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The picture above is from Ash Wednesday 2021 at Munger Place Church; not only did we have worship outside in ice and snow that day, but the Texas power outage meant that many of us weren’t even able to go home and warm up in our comfortable houses!

But you know what? That was one of my favorite worship services of these last 2 pandemic years. (And not because I preached in ski goggles.)

With ice and snow in our forecast, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of Christian worship, and thought that some of you might be interested in my conclusions and convictions.

 
 

Why I Never Again Want to Cancel Worship*

One of my convictions after living through these last 24 months of a worldwide pandemic:

I will never again cancel weekly worship* (due to bad weather or any other reason).

[Note the asterisk, however!]

These last 24 months have convinced me that nothing is more important than the gathering of God’s people to worship the Crucified Lord.

I really mean that, and though I might have said that in February 2020, in February 2022 I know it.

This means that, despite the bad weather in the forecast for Thursday, we will NOT cancel our weekly Thursday 6 PM worship service this week. (And, God forbid, if weather causes problems into Sunday, we won’t cancel services then, either.)

 
 

Now, About That Asterisk*

When I say that I never want to cancel “worship,” I need to clarify a bit.

What I mean is, no matter the situation, I firmly believe we should never completely cancel worship; we will have some kind of worship gathering. But, that does not necessarily mean that worship will look like normal. In fact, there are many circumstances that will cause us to change what worship normally looks like.

Here’s what I mean:

  • Say the roads are unsafe for drivers. Well, I live within walking distance to church; if the roads are bad, I’ll put on my boots and walk. I’ll be at church no matter what.

  • We’ve told our staff to stay home if they feel unsafe or uncertain for any reason. I trust them and trust them to make wise decisions for themselves. The same goes for our musicians and volunteers, and of course for our childcare workers. (In bad weather, we will certainly cancel childcare.)

  • But if none of our staff or volunteers is able to make it, guess what? I’ll grab a hymnal and lead the congregation present in singing “Amazing Grace”!

  • If the power goes out, then I’ll gather folks in the icy parking lot and we’ll have a worship service under the cold sky.

  • The point: I will personally ensure we will have worship somehow, no matter what.

 
 

Note That I Said I Never Want to Cancel “Worship”

I said we will never cancel “worship.” There are many scenarios (bad weather being only one example) when we would certainly cancel groups, classes, events, meetings, etc. And, although tonight I’m thinking primarily about weather, my experience during this pandemic has taught me that it is possible to make weekly worship happen even in difficult and dangerous circumstances. For example, because of the pandemic, at Munger we met outside all winter long last year. When you are committed and creative enough, weekly worship is possible. It wasn’t the easiest—and Lord knows that there are lots of folks who have strongly disagreed with my leadership during this pandemic!—but I’m so glad we worked hard to make it happen.

 
 

Why This Matters So Much to Me

I think about the saints, martyrs, and apostles who treasured the gospel and literally gave up their lives to ensure that I would hear it, and I think about that gospel and the amazing message it contains—hope beyond hope, life beyond death—and then I think about my short life and the beautiful responsibility that I have received from the ones who’ve gone before, namely to steward the gospel and ensure that a people yet unborn will hear the Good News, and I think about the underground church in China today, and the literal underground church of the Romans catacombs 2,000 years ago, and the relentless pressure we all face to lose hope and give in to despair, and about how worship is fundamental to our belief that God’s love is stronger than the forces of death, and so I conclude:

Nothing is more important than the gathering of God’s people in joyful, grateful worship around the Crucified Lord.

Nothing.

 
 

Make the Best Decisions for Your Household

Many of us can walk to church; many of us cannot. I personally can walk to church, and I’m gonna, come hell or ice water. But as I said above, we’ve encouraged our staff not to come to church if for any reason they feel it’s unsafe to do so. And, I’d say the same to you:

You should NOT come to church if it’s unsafe for you to do so—I trust you to make your own prudential decision about whether you should come or not.

There’s always another Sunday, and if I don’t see you, please know I will not even think twice about it—I’ll know that you’ve made the best decision for your household.

(And by the way, there are lots of churches that don’t have walkable streets around them, and I’m also trusting that those churches—should they make decisions to cancel worship—are also making the best decisions for them. This is about me and my circumstances, not others and their circumstances.)

 
 

No Storms Last Forever

I know that my kids—and me!—are hoping for a nice snowfall.

(As long as we don’t lose power! Please God, let us not lose power!)

I’m also hoping that all of you stay safe, and I look forward to seeing all of you at church when both this storm and the pandemic blow over.

Nothing lasts forever, and spring always arrives, right on time.

 
 

P.S. Pics From Ash Wednesday 2021

Note the orange ladder on which I am perched as I preach my Ash Wednesday message in the freezing cold.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return;

Repent, and believe the gospel.

 

My Daughter and Me at Dawn

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Every weekday morning I or a member of our Munger staff leads online community prayer. I enjoy leading it from White Rock Lake whenever possible, and recently my little daughter has started to accompany me.

Yesterday morning was a lovely morning at the lake. We arrived just as the dawn was breaking and enjoyed leading everyone through our brief morning liturgy and taking prayer requests. At the end of morning prayer, we always close by reciting The Lord’s Prayer. My daughter has been working on it with me, and this is how we ended our time together yesterday.

What I like about the video above is how we are looking at each other as we’re reciting it. I’m focused on her, and she’s focused on me.

It struck me later that this is what being a father is all about. Lord knows I fail at this most of the time, but I want to be this kind of father, patiently pouring into his children what he knows about the world so that they can grow up to become big and strong and wise.

Fathers, God has already given us all that our children need from us. More than anything, they need our quiet attention and to benefit from whatever little we possess that’s good, true, and wise. If we give them that—no matter how inadequate or insignificant—we’ll be giving them all that we can.

And that will be enough.

A Personal/Pandemic Letter to My Church on Saturday Evening

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[I took the above picture on Cape Cod a few weeks ago, and it’s a good reminder to me tonight that this pandemic won’t last forever.]

 
 

It’s Saturday evening, and I am feeling a nervous excitement and anticipation about church tomorrow.

I had a funeral earlier today for a woman in our church whom I used to see every Sunday—if you looked at her, it would seem as if she thought that getting to assemble with the people of God on the first day of the week to sing and pray and learn and listen was the greatest privilege of her life.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this time of pandemic is that Jan was right—the coming together of the Church on Sunday is the greatest gift and responsibility that the Lord has given us.

Now, I had assumed (and you know what they say about assumptions….) that the pandemic would be behind us when I returned from summer break, but even these past few days have shown me just how wrong that assumption was.

We met outside for worship, rain or shine, from October 2020 into June 2021, and so I’ve had a few folks ask me if we are going to move outside tomorrow.

As I mentioned, I only got back in the office a couple of days ago and had a funeral this morning on which I have been focused these past few days, so I personally have not been able to meet with our staff and leadership and consider if we need to change our Sunday plan going forward.

Consequently, for tomorrow (Sunday, 8/15) we will continue to follow the Sunday plan our staff and leadership had already developed; that is, this Sunday will be exactly the same as last Sunday—we will NOT be moving outside.  (During the middle hour, our elementary Sunday school program will be held outside, however.)

In the week to come we will evaluate what happens tomorrow, and if I and our leaders think we need to adopt a different Sunday plan going forward, we will make that determination and I will let you know of any changes as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I understand there are some people in our congregation who may not feel comfortable gathering with other Mungarians inside our sanctuary on Sundays.  It might be helpful to know that we post each Sunday’s worship service on our website by 7 PM on that Sunday.  In addition, our Thursday evening service draws a much smaller number of people than do our Sunday services, and perhaps an almost-empty sanctuary might be a good option for folks who are desperate to come to church but who are uncomfortable being in our crowded sanctuary on Sunday mornings.

Finally—and I’ll have more to say about this tomorrow—it seems clear to me that this pandemic is being used by dark forces to divide us.  We are of course aware that other people feel very strongly and quite differently than we do about this pandemic protocol or that pandemic protocol.  You will certainly never hear me say that all beliefs or ideas or policies are equal—some beliefs or ideas or policies may be true and good and some may be false and bad.  But, whether or not someone has adopted the correct views or not has absolutely nothing to do with how we are to think of that person; the command of Jesus to his Church is quite clear: we are to love even the people who are wrong.

Let it not be true at Munger that we let this pandemic cause us to hate other Mungarians.  Let us make the decisions we need to make for our families, let us argue and listen and learn, let us show curiosity and empathy, but let us not give ourselves over to contempt and hatred for the people we believe are wrong.

So, here is what I’m asking you tonight:

  • That you would specifically pray for me, as I seek to faithfully lead our church through this pandemic;

  • That you would specifically pray by name for someone in our church whom you believe to be wrong about the pandemic, and ask that the Lord would give you love for that person;

  • And that you’d pray that the Lord would fill our church services with a fiery joy when we gather together.

 

In Christ,

Andrew Forrest

My Teaching/Preaching Schedule For August & September

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Low tide at Breakwater Beach, Brewster Flats, Cape Cod.

Low tide at Breakwater Beach, Brewster Flats, Cape Cod.

 

I took the above photo last night on Cape Cod. I need and am so grateful for time away every summer from weekly preaching and teaching, but it won’t be long before we’re back home and kicking off a great fall, and I’m getting excited.

Some of you might be interested in my upcoming teaching and preaching schedule as a new ministry year begins for me—if so, I’ve listed below some of the fun stuff we have coming up.

 
 

What If You Could Start Over?

Sermon series, Sundays August 15 and 22

I’m interested in the following questions these days:

  • What if you could start over?

  • What if you could begin again?

  • What if, knowing what you know now, God gave you another shot?

I’m kicking off the fall by looking at these questions, and I have good news for you:

With God, all things are possible.

 
 

The Daniel Project

Friday-Saturday, August 27-28

The Daniel Project is a weekend seminar I teach in which we look at some of the most difficult and confusing questions people are asking about God and the Christian faith. My goal is for folks to leave feeling confident and to have clarity when they are confronted by these difficult questions. More info here.

 
 

Romans—The Greatest Letter Ever Written

Sermon series, Munger weekend services, kicking off Sunday, August 29

I’m going to be preaching and teaching through Paul’s great Letter to the Romans this fall, starting the last Sunday in August. Romans is not an easy letter, but it is worth it. We’ll be handing out Romans scripture journals as part of a churchwide reading plan; our reading plan begins September 1.

Who’s in?

 
 

Sex Idol! Churchwide Bible Study on Romans and Sexuality

Wednesday, September 1, 6-7 PM

The first chapter of Romans contains one of the longest discussions of sexuality in the Bible. What does the Bible say about human sexuality? Why does Paul connect sexual sin with idolatry? How does this passage make sense of the rest of the letter? How does the Bible’s teaching on sex apply to us today?

I’ll be teaching a Bible study on all of the above in the Munger sanctuary at 6 PM on Wednesday, 9/1. Leave work early just this once, and then join us for food trucks and fun outside afterwards. Separate study on Romans (but not on sex!) for elementary students at the same time, with childcare available for little ones.

You know you’re curious—mark your calendars now.

 
 

Seven - Friday Morning Men’s Series in September

Fridays in September, 7-8 AM, Munger sanctuary

For each of the Fridays in September, I and Rodney Adams will be teaching a men’s breakfast series starting at 7 AM sharp. We’ll provide Chick-fil-A biscuits and coffee.

Fellas, this is a great event to invite other guys to attend. Whom are you going to invite?

 
 

Going to be a great fall. Expect great things!

"The Wedding Song"

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This past Saturday evening I officiated my 150th wedding.

At the bride’s request, I did something I hadn't done at the previous 149: performed a song. The song was "The Wedding Song", by Noel Paul Stookey.

(The video posted below is from the Thursday before the wedding, when I sang the song at Munger during our Thursday evening service as a way to practice.)

The bride helped us start Munger 11 years ago and the groom was a widower from our church with 3 boys. Their wedding was an occasion I had been praying for literally for years.

God is so good.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.

 
 
 
 

Christmas 2020: "And They All Missed It"

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Think back over the last 365 days, since last Christmas.  Think of all the things that have happened: a global pandemic, civic unrest, a presidential election, etc.

How do you know you were paying attention to what really mattered?

It’s easy to be distracted by what the world considers important: politics and war and wealth and the like.

But, what if God is up to something else entirely?  What if God is at work in other ways? What if you and I on our own are completely unable to tell what’s truly important from what is just distraction?

 What if you’ve been distracted this entire year and missed what’s really been happening?

 After all, when the first Christmas came it happened in a surprising and unexpected way.

 And they all missed it.

Sermon References:

 
 

Think back over the last 365 days, since last Christmas. Think of all the things that have happened: a global pandemic, civic unrest, a presidential election, etc. How do you know you were paying attention to what really mattered? It’s easy to be distracted by what the world considers important: politics and war and wealth and the like. But, what if God is up to something else entirely? What if God is at work in other ways? What if you and I on our own are completely unable to tell what’s truly important from what is just distraction? What if you’ve been distracted this entire year and missed what’s really been happening? After all, when the first Christmas came it happened in a surprising and unexpected way. And they all missed it. Preacher: Andrew Forrest Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 References: Painting: “The Census at Bethlehem,” by Pieter Brueghel the Elder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Census_at_Bethlehem Good 48 minutes BBC documentary on the painting: “Private Life of a Masterpiece: Census at Bethlehem” < http://www.infocobuild.com/books-and-films/art/PrivateLifeMasterpiece/episode-24.html> The Little Ice Age https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age Gallup survey: “Americans' Mental Health Ratings Sink to New Low” https://news.gallup.com/poll/327311/americans-mental-health-ratings-sink-new-low.aspx

Making Peace with the Pandemic

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What have you had to let go of this year because of the pandemic?

 
 

I can’t put into words what the picture above means to me.

It is from Munger’s Christmas Commitment Sunday 2019.

On Christmas Commitment Sunday every year, we ask households to come forward, kneel, pray, and say:

“Lord, thank you for how you have provided for us in the year that’s past”

and

“Lord, please bless the work of our hands in the year to come.”

 
 

IF THERE IS A MORE MOVING SIGHT IN MINISTRY THAN SEEING WHOLE FAMILIES ON THEIR KNEES IN GRATITUDE BEFORE GOD, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

 
 

Looking at that photo again—all those families crowded into our church—makes me want to cry:

Because it can’t happen like that this year.

 
 

Here are some more pics that make me realize how much we’re missing out on this year. Do you see the mariachis by the red tent? Mariachis make me happy. Also, can you see the one with me praying with my family? Man how I love being able to do that every year—it’s such a powerful moment for us: “Lord, thank you thank you thank you.”

 
 
 

None of the above will happen like that this year, which I think is a major spiritual setback for our community, gripped as it is so tightly by consumerism and entitlement.

But there’s nothing we can do, is there?

 
 

Making Peace with the Pandemic

It seems almost obscene to modern wealthy Americans to state the obvious:

Sooner or later in life, you come up against something you cannot ultimately change or control.

In every individual life this is true, but this pandemic is the first such experience in generations that is true for all of us at the same time.

 
 

So, things are different this year and there’s nothing I can do about it.

And so I’m going to make peace with the pandemic.

Things are different this Christmas than I want them to be, but that doesn’t mean that we should stop doing what we believe matters. It just has to look different.

And I’m okay with that. Really.

 
 

Munger Christmas Season 2020

So, here is how things will look at Munger this Christmas.

 

Church is outdoors every Sunday, 9 and 11, rain or shine. (In inclement weather, services will be 30 minutes.) Worried about the weather? As it says in 2 Hezekiah, “just suck it up.”

 

Christmas Eve is outdoors, rain or shine!

  • 3:30 (kids);

  • 4:30, 5:30, & 11:30 PM—all 30 minute candlelight services.

  • We will be offering indoor Christmas Travelers services at 6 PM on 12/21 and 12/22 so we can record a full service to put online. Reservations required—info to come.

 
 

Christmas Commitment Sunday 2020 (12/13)

The spiritual reality behind Christmas Commitment Sunday—namely that gratitude is the only appropriate response to all our blessings—is too important to forgo this year, though things have to look different.

So, as in years past, I want to challenge our church to thank God for his provision in 2020 and ask for his blessing in 2021—to Finish Strong and Start Well.

But this year, things will look different. There will not be regular services on Sunday, 12/13.

Instead, I will lead several brief communion services in the parking lot and the sanctuary will be open from 7:30 AM-12:30 PM for folks to pray inside and drop off their gifts.

Here’s our new plan for Sunday, December 13:
• Sanctuary open 7:30 AM-12:30 PM.

• Only one household permitted in the building at a time.

• 15 minute communion services in parking lot at 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 noon.

We want to give folks the opportunity to pray in the sanctuary as they make their Christmas Commitment. That time kneeling at the rail is important for many of us. If you choose to do so, you will enter through the main front doors and have the whole building to yourself for a few minutes, before leaving through the coffee bar doors. There will be no one else in the entire building while your household is inside.

Of course, if you want to drop off a gift outside, you can certainly do that as well.

(As always, you can make your Christmas gift and set up your giving at www.mungerplace.org/give.)

And, I’m pre-recording a full sermon that will be online that morning as well, so be sure to catch it with your family.

 
 

So, I’ve made my peace with the pandemic. I’m okay with things being different.

This year, a lot about the Christmas season will be different, but Christmas itself isn’t cancelled.

The light still shines in darkness.

And I’m more than okay with that.

What about you?

Munger Is Opening! (ish)

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Great news—we’re going to re-open church! (ish)

 
 

Outdoor Services at Munger: 9 AM & 11 AM

Starting Sunday, 10/4, we’re moving to a new Sunday schedule at Munger: outdoor services in our parking lot at 9:00 and 11:00 AM.

This schedule will continue through October and perhaps through November as well.

(The Sunday 7:30 AM outdoor communion service that we started in July is superseded by these later services and is discontinued. I will miss it, though—I really enjoyed being there in the early mornings with the faithful few.)

 
 

Service Details

  • We’ll be in the main Munger parking lot under the blue sky.

  • Bring your own camp chair or blanket.

  • Services will be 60 minutes long. I’ll be preaching every week.

  • Bathrooms will be open if you need them, but otherwise everything will take place outside.

  • Dress casually.

  • By now, you know the Covid rules, and they apply at church, too: keep at least 6 ft apart from others at all times and wear a mask when you cannot maintain that amount of distance. We’ll have masks available for anyone who needs one.

  • The nice thing about being outside is that you can position yourself as far away from others as you need—take advantage of the space. 6ft apart is the minimum, right?

  • Please respect the space of others and don’t be that guy or gal who puts a chair down right next to another family!

 
 

What About Kids?

We are offering an Outdoor Children’s Area for ages 1-pre K at the 9 AM service only. You must register to reserve a spot; spots are limited. For more info and to REGISTER, click here.

Infants as well as elementary kids get to be in the service with the rest of us!

We’re starting small this week and will add more kids/childcare options in the weeks to come.

 
 

What About Online?

We will post an entire service online at 9:30 AM Sunday as usual; the sermon is also available from 6 AM Sunday on via the Munger website and via podcast.

Please do NOT feel pressure to attend an outdoor service if it not wise for your household to do so for whatever reason; take advantage of the online service instead.

 
 

When Will We Move Indoors?

We will continue outdoor services through October, and very likely through November. So, one possibility is to move indoors the first Sunday of Advent (11/29). But, as with everything else in 2020, who knows?

 
 

What About Coffee?

At this point, it’s BYOC and BYOD (doughnuts).

Actually, it’s pretty much BYOeverything.

 
 

Should I Attend If I’m Sick or Think I Could Be Sick?

If you don’t know the answer to that one by now, I have some magic beans to sell you for a great price.

Kristi & Jason's Private Pandemic Parade!

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Because of the quarantine, Kristi & Jason had a very different wedding day than they’d planned. They cancelled all their invitations and their reservations; they asked me if I’d be willing to officiate a private wedding ceremony for them at Munger. Of course I said yes. The total congregation today at the wedding consisted of me, the bride, the groom, the photographer, and a floppy-haired urchin I enlisted as my altarboy/assistant, who ended up filming with an iPhone from the balcony.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds walked out the front steps of the church only to be surprised by a parade put on by their loved ones!  The stream of vehicles kept circling and honking and generally making a ruckus. None of us expected it, and it was such a delight!

 
 

 
 

Jason and Kristi, may all your days be filled with such unexpected joy, and may God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace. Amen.

 
 

P.S. Here’s a picture of the humble officiant with his floppy-haired urchin/altarboy/assistant.

 
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Read the Psalms With Me, One Psalm a Day

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Starting Easter Monday, April 13, I will be reading and teaching through the book of Psalms, one psalm each day, ending in September. You should join me!

In this post:

  • Why we should read the Psalms—now more than ever;

  • How to read along with me;

  • How to get a copy of the beautiful book I’ll be using.

 
 

The Psalms Make Us Strong

For 3,000 years, the people of God have read, sung, prayed, studied, and learned the Psalms, and these ancient Hebrew poems have made God’s people strong in times of trouble and joyful in times of praise.

The Psalms help us remain rooted so we won’t be swept away in the storm. Psalm 1, e.g., explicitly promises that people who spend time with God’s words become like trees, deeply rooted and always fruitful even in times of drought!

 
 

The Plan

There are 150 Psalms; a few are long, and a few are very short, but most are a couple of paragraphs—in other words, perfect for reading one a day. We begin on Easter Monday, April 13, and will conclude on September 9, 150 days later.

Every day, I’ll post a very brief reflection/explanation on the Bible section of this blog; I will also email out that reflection daily at 4:00 AM for everyone on my Bible mailing list. Sign up here if you are not already subscribed. (If you had been receiving my Genesis emails, you are good to go for Psalms.)

I will be preaching and teaching through Psalms as well. The kickoff Bible study will be on Wednesday, April 15 at 8 PM.

 
 

The Beautiful Psalms Books We’re Using

We’ll be using the Psalms ESV Scripture Journal books available from Crossway.

You can buy your own from Amazon here.

You can of course read through the Psalms in any Bible or Bible app, but that is the book we’ll be using at Munger. They are beautiful books, with the text on one page and an empty notes page facing. The photo below (from the Crossway website) is of Matthew’s Gospel, but you get the idea.

 
 
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How to Pick Up Your FREE Copy

We had ordered 4,000 books and were planning on distributing them on Easter Sunday. But, plans change and we set up a strict pick up system at church (sign-up online, drive-up, roll down passenger window, receive books into empty passenger seat, etc.) and in the last four days we gave out 2,038 books!

Let me repeat that: in the last four days we gave out 2,038 books!

The books have been in our storage unit since the end of January, and the only person who will touch them will be wearing gloves and a mask.

If you’d like to pick up a copy for you or a loved one, we have 2 more scheduled pick-up windows:

Wednesday, 4/8 and Monday, 4/13

10:00 AM- 12noon.

Be sure to sign up online at this link.

(And be sure to read and follow all instructions completely.)

***Remember, if you can’t pick up a copy at Munger, you can click here and order one from Amazon.***

 
 

Ready to Go?

For 3,000 years, the people of God have read, sung, prayed, studied, and learned the Psalms, and these ancient Hebrew poems have made God’s people strong in times of trouble and joyful in times of praise.

Now it’s our turn.

Ready to go?

I Have Become a Televangelist

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A few weeks ago I decided that a quarantine was inevitably going to come upon us, so I bought a bunch of home video equipment that would allow me to broadcast from my home office.

Tomorrow, I make my debut as a televangelist. [3/15/2020 at 9:30 AM, CDT—here’s the link.] Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be buying a private jet any time soon, so I have a long way to go in my new career.

I’ve done a few live test videos so far, and everything seems to be working perfectly, though the lights make me sweat! The photo above is from this morning and is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous life of a startup televangelist.

I’m planning on releasing as many videos and blog posts as I can crank out in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Pray for me!

 
[Here’s a screenshot from a video I did this morning. From the viewer’s perspective, everything looks pretty good.]

[Here’s a screenshot from a video I did this morning. From the viewer’s perspective, everything looks pretty good.]

 

How to Watch

We’ll be using Facebook Live. Here’s the schedule for Sunday, March 15, 2020

09:30 AM - Live Music

10:00 AM - Live Message

  1. Watch at www.mungerplace.org/watch. We’ll post some documents with the scripture passage and song lyrics there as well.

  2. Login to Facebook and watch at the Munger Place Church Facebook page.

 

All Public Worship Services Temporarily Cancelled at Munger for Sunday, 3/15/2020

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We are *temporarily* canceling all public worship services at Munger Place Church on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

Here’s why:

 

“Doing Nothing” and Staying Home Will Make a Difference In Our Community!

What the research and expert opinion shows is that the single most effective way to slow down the spread of the coronavirus is to practice social distancing, i.e., to stay home. [More info here.]

We are at a tipping point in our city with regard to the spread of the virus, and we have the ability to slow its spread by “doing nothing”!  That is, when we stay home, we make a difference.

 

 This Is About Our Hospital System and About Loving Our Neighbors

We know the virus will spread, and many of us will get sick.  The concern I have (after reading lots of reports) is lessening the strain on our hospital system, so that the people who are sick or injured from whatever cause will have a safe hospital bed in which to be treated and recover.

This is not about you or me avoiding getting sick—this is about us caring for others and thinking proactively about our hospital system by deliberately slowing the virus spread, thereby keeping more people healthier longer.

 
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I Do NOT Want You to Come to Church

For the first time in my entire pastoral ministry, I feel that the most faithful leadership I can show and the most love of my neighbor I can practice is to tell you not to come to church this Sunday.

 

NOW Is the Time to Act

 This is a temporary measure because NOW is the time to slow the virus.  Once it breaks out among us in as severe an outbreak as in Italy, e.g., it will be too late.

 

This Is Not About Giving Into Fear

It is not giving into fear to be prudent.  Fear and panic is buying all the Doritos at the grocery store and stocking toilet paper for the next 4 years!  Prudence is the opposite of panic—prudence is boarding up your windows when the hurricane is coming.  Prudence is preparing for the future.

 

How You Can Make a Difference

You know that I’ve committed to be candid with you, even if what I have to say makes people angry.

The following is what I strongly believe:

Out of love for our neighbors, we need to cancel our travel plans and our social activities immediately.  I am doing this personally.

We want to slow the spread of this virus, and that is how to do it.  Don’t wait for anyone else—LOVE GOES FIRST.  Do it now.  It is not brave or loving to persist with normal social activities.  Life will resume and life will go on, but NOW is the time to act.

By definition “too early” is “not too late.”

 

Here’s What Our Church Will Be Doing

 We will resume public worship services ASAP.

In the mean time, our Munger staff is working hard to prepare to deliver content to our people on a regular basis.  We will definitely do a livestream of some sort on Sunday morning, March 15, 2020.  Stay posted for the exact details.

In addition, we are making plans now to best care for the poor and vulnerable among us who will be hit hard financially when they miss work, etc.  More details to follow.

 

There IS No Reason to Be Afraid

 Friends, preparing and prudence are not panic.  They are wise.  We have no reason to be afraid because Christ is King.

 

Here’s What I AM Asking Us to Do:

1.      Spread this message.  Tell all the Mungarians you know that church is temporarily cancelled for this Sunday.  Tell everyone you know to stay home.

2.     Spread PEACE through your networks.  We have no reason to be afraid—Jesus has overcome the world!

 

Love and courage,

Andrew

 

P.S.  If I am wrong about this, then we’ll all be able to laugh at my expense in a few weeks.  I’ve never wanted to be more wrong in my life!  If I’m right, however, but refuse to take responsibility to act, that will also be clear in a few weeks, and God will hold me accountable for my leadership failures.

Here's What We're Doing at Munger About the Coronavirus

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At all times, we want our folks to feel as safe as possible when coming to church; in times of crisis and with fear whispering in our ears, it’s more important than ever that the Church comes together on Sundays.

No one knows the future, and no one knows exactly how the Coronavirus will affect our city.

That being said, there are some prudent steps we can take to be prepared, starting this weekend.

Here’s What We’re Doing at Munger About the Coronavirus:

  • All doors will be propped open, so no one will have to pull on a doorhandle.

  • Instead of passing the offering plate, we’ll have big offering baskets near the exits into which folks can drop their offering. (Giving online is always an option!)

  • We will NOT be serving doughnuts at our morning services.*

  • We will not pass the peace or shake hands. Elbow bumps it is!

  • We will clean and disinfect all surfaces after each service.

*Don’t worry, in place of doughnuts we’re going to have individually-wrapped treats of some sort for those of you who can’t sit through church without a treat! And, because our local doughnut shop depends on our church’s business, though we will not be actually asking them to make our usual order, we will keep paying for it for the time being.

 

Here’s What You Can Do To Help

  • If you’re sick, stay home!

  • If your children are sick, please keep them at home.

  • Bring your own hand sanitizer. (We have supplies for a couple of months, but our suppliers are unable to restock at this point, so if you bring your own sanitizer, it will help our supplies last.)

  • If you’re not sick, come to church!

 

No one knows the future, and we are all in the hands of God. But that’s always true, isn’t it?

We have an opportunity here to show our neighbors the difference faith in Jesus makes.

Let’s do it.

Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36)

Initial Thoughts on the Proposed Methodist Split

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My phone was blowing up today with folks asking me if I had seen the news of a proposed split for the United Methodist Church, and what my thoughts were. Here is my initial reaction, along with some clarifying information as to what today’s news actually means.

 

Facts Are Our Friends

The facts are that the United Methodist Church is an extremely divided denomination, and not only as to the definition of marriage: there are wide divisions in the denomination over nearly every other theological category one could think of.

It is good to recognize this fact. We may wish it were different, but it isn’t, and we’ll never make progress unless we acknowledge the stubborn uncomfortable facts of the present. The fact that we are divided is sad, but sadder still would be our refusal to acknowledge that these divisions are deep and irreconcilable.

 

Life Requires Trade-offs

Because the UMC is so divided, no interest group or caucus or theological camp will ever be able to get 100% of what it wants. It is good to acknowledge this, even if it’s painful. So, a mediated plan for amicable separation is, at this point, a good thing.

 

Leaders Make Hard Decisions

I’m impressed that the proposed plan has signatories from many of the relevant camps and caucuses. There is no other way forward. No doubt there were parts of the proposed plan that were hard for any individual signatory to stomach. Good for the folks who hammered out this plan for knowing that ANY successful solution will have distasteful parts to their respective constituencies. I have a lot of respect for those sorts of leaders, leaders who make hard decisions.

 

It Is Better to Part Than to Remain in a Wrestling Match to the Death

When Abraham and his nephew Lot can no longer live together (see Genesis 13), they decide on an amicable separation. Lot chooses his direction, and Abraham goes in the other.

Although it would have been better if we could live together in unity and love, since we can’t, then it’s good for us to part peaceably.

 

IMPORTANT: The Proposed Plan is Just That: a *Proposal*

The plan of separation will need to be passed at the 2020 General Conference for it to actually mean anything. The General Conference could pass it or reject it or modify it. Until then, the plan is an idea only. Let me say again: literally anything or nothing could come out of General Conference 2020. That said, it is significant that the 16 signatories represent such a wide array of caucuses and camps, and presumably these signatories will be working hard between now and the May General Conference to get buy in from the elected delegates with regard to the plan of separation.

 

Local Churches And Pastors Have No way of Affecting the General Conference Outcome At This Point, Apart from Prayer

The only people who will have a say at General Conference 2020 are the 862 elected delegates, who were elected last year from around the world. (General Conference 2020 will be held in Minneapolis in May.) The United Methodist Church is organized into regional bodies called Annual Conferences; I am a member of the North Texas Annual Conference. [Bishop Michael McKee—our bishop, put out a helpful and informative statement on the proposed plan.] The North Texas Conference was allotted 8 delegates to General Conference 2020–4 clergy delegates, and 4 lay delegates. At the North Texas Annual Conference meeting last June, I was able to vote for 4 clergy delegates, and the lay members of the Annual Conference were able to vote for 4 lay delegates. After the voting, neither I nor any other pastor who is not an elected delegate has any say whatsoever on the outcome of the 2020 General Conference.

 

What Does This Mean For Munger?

Munger is officially a part of Highland Park United Methodist Church. There is no way to know at this point what these proposed plans mean for Munger—it all depends on what happens at General Conference, and what the North Texas Conference and then Highland Park UMC do in response. What I do know is this: for over 10 years now, the leadership of Highland Park has always worked hard to do whatever it takes to set up and then help Munger to flourish as a congregation in East Dallas, and I am confident that that won’t change going forward.

Fear of the future has no place in the people of God. Instead, we should all be grateful that our denominational leaders have put in the required hard work toward a necessary way forward, and grateful that God has permitted us to be in ministry at this place and time—there is lots of ministry in the name of Jesus to do.

The future is inherently unknowable, which is why Jesus tells us to only focus on today. As I write this, e.g., it seems that the United States will be at war with Iran; I have no idea what that means for the future, nor did I have any idea 48 hours ago what the geopolitical news would be today. My point is that there is no point in worrying over the future, which is out of our hands. What I do know is that God tells us to be faithful, to love our neighbors and our enemies, to trust him with the future, and to carry on.

Let’s do it. See you Sunday.

Merry Christmas and Christmas War

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Preaching on Christmas Eve is difficult. For me, it’s the most difficult occasion I preach all year. The reason is that I feel as if I’ve already said everything interesting about the Incarnation and used every good illustration and analogy I can come up with in prior years. I’ve honestly been worried about this year’s Christmas sermon for months. (I really liked my Christmas Eve sermon from last year and I knew I couldn’t top it this year.)

At Munger we put on a Christmas Travelers Service the week before Christmas for folks who can’t be at our church on Christmas Eve, and I preach my Christmas sermon at that service as a kind of dress rehearsal. This year’s Travelers service was on Thursday, 12/19; I ended up being disappointed with my sermon, so I threw the whole thing out and started over!

My new Christmas sermon never came together the way I wanted it and I changed it a lot over the course of the day, from service to service, but I can honestly say it wasn’t like any Christmas sermon I’ve ever heard or anything I’d preached before, so that’s something.

Merry Christmas to you all. Love and courage in 2020.

[My Christmas Eve 2019 sermon is called “Christmas War,” and I’ve included the video below, recorded at 7 PM on 12/24/19.]

Christmas War

Christmas means war. Brothers and sisters, here’s how to fight.

Sermon Links

Scripture: Luke 2:13

References: