Ice Storms & Earthquakes Revisited

We had an ice storm last Wednesday-Thursday.  That's a big deal in the Augusta, Georgia area.  That it was a one inch ice storm is really beyond our understanding.  That cracking of icy limbs and explosion of transformers throughout the long, cold night were unfamiliar noises to southern ears.  The angry ice monster tore the pine trees to pieces, while we couldn't see during the dark of night, so that our yards were full of huge limbs the next day.  Power was out from a day to 4 days for most of the area. and it wreaked havoc on us in ways that most folk just weren't prepared for.

You can heat us up with a month or two of 100 degree weather and we're fine, but cold and ice is a totally different story.  Even the Eisenhower Tree, the famous 125 year old loblolly pine on the 17th hole at the Augusta National finally, fell and gave in to the President's request as a result of this bizarre, damaging middle Georgia ice storm.

Since last week everyone has been doing clean-up, swapping stories of the ice storm and the subsequent earthquakes (Really!  The first was a 4.1 Friday night at 10:23PM & then a 3.2 Sunday afternoon), and trying to get back into a routine.

Tuesday & Wednesday I was spending time in different neighborhoods in Augusta checking in on folk and looking to see what church workers might do to help the community.  Tuesday afternoon I saw one of our homeless friends sitting outside in his usual place downtown.  He's well known as a "regular" with one of our church partner ministries.  He's an Irish Traveler from across the river and has lived on Augusta streets for a long time.  We talked a little while and then I asked him what he did during the ice storm.

Old Sherlock pointed to his usual door stoop, laughed loudly, and said he slept where he usually sleeps.

Now, he's afraid of the evil sometimes in himself.  And he's afraid of demons.  But Old Sherlock isn't afraid of big ice storms or earthquakes!

If you want to do an interesting Bible study check out how many times "fear" is a theme.  You'll find it mentioned in 50 books of the Bible.  We are taught to fear God, but not to fear so many of the things that cause us worry.  This is tough!  I'm thinking of people in tough neighborhoods or countries where the battle rages.  I'm thinking of violent homes and neighborhoods.  I'm thinking about most of our worries about fitting in, and money, and job, and home, and food, and security.

I'm thinking about Sherlock laughing about my fears, and God exposing my fears, and ice storms and earthquakes in the dark!

Psalm 91:1-6 says,
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Ice Storm Home Reconstruction Projects March 2-8

I hope you've held up to the ice storm, loss of power, & all the challenges of the last week.  As you survey the damage in your ministry area keep an eye open for possible mission opportunities with your church members, neighbors and community.  Most of what I have been seeing is less formal and relational disaster response as family, friends, and neighbors take care of each other.  Know that there are other volunteers and tools available from the NGUMC, from Trinity on the Hill, Wesley, and other area churches as we respond together to the many needs.  There are currently a number of chain saw and debris removal teams in the area (Southern Baptists, Rubicon, Samaritan’s Purse) that you might join and can find through emergency management officials in your county and through local media.  

Trinity on the Hill & Wesley UMC had planned to send another disaster reconstruction team to Mississippi, but with our ice storm have changed plans.  These are very experienced missioners who do roofing, use pneumatic air guns, etc.  Rather than go to MS our partner churches will gather in Augusta for March 2-8 to assist with projects here.  If you become aware of someone in your church or community in the Richmond or Columbia County area who owns their home and lacks insurance/funds/skills to rebuild we'll be looking for a number of projects for the week to keep this experienced team busy.  Or if you've always wanted to be part of a disaster reconstruction team and have some time and availability we'd be glad to add you to the group as we need workers (experienced and inexperienced), cooks, photographers, gophers, etc.  Please contact Rev. Scott Parrish at 706-738-8822 (church office) or 706-993-6967 (cell).  You may send full details of the proposed project to sparrish@trinityonthehill.net and be sure to include your name and contact info, the address of the proposed project, & the best phone number for the homeowner.  With the short week and quick notice it’s best if these are storm related problems and not pre-existing conditions.  If you can describe what is needed and share one best photo that will also help as we develop a priority list.  We need to quickly compile a list and visit the potential sites, order materials, and have everything pulled together prior to March 2.      

Ice Storm & Earthquake

Since last Wednesday my Augusta, Georgia area has been the home of a major ice storm and some earthquake rumbles.  It's certainly not business as usual around here.  An ice storm is about as common as an earthquake for us.  The storm had broad impact and took out many old trees and limbs off of almost every tree.  Ice claimed the Eisenhower Tree on the 17th hole at Augusta National.  Across the region a half million people lost power.  The power lineman crews have worked day and night, and today are down to the last hundreds that need electricity returned.  Recent days have been a time to figure out how to stay warm and take care of daily concerns we usually don't think twice about.  Now we clean up, check in on neighbors, and come together as a community to return to normal.  After all, the world comes to town for the first full week of April for the Masters Tournament. 

Community Approach to Mission

UMC Global Ministries showcases some great community ministry resources in the latest edition of New World Outlook.  This is THE way to revitalize churches as we reconnect to our communities!

Preaching About Mission and Outreach

Dr. Mike Cash, our senior pastor at Trinity on the Hill UMC, did an excellent job of sharing the mission challenge with our congregation during a 3 sermon series that culminated in our big mission Sunday this past weekend.  Sometimes a congregation can do a mission Sunday and it can be awkwardly positioned in the worship and preaching schedule in ways that kill momentum- both for mission & the full life of the church- rather than build and encourage.  The response this year has been enthusiastic as Mike helped us build up to the big Sunday where we ask for the congregation to commit to another year of mission service in praying, participating, and funding outreach in substantive ways locally, nationally, and internationally.  This is a healthy model for the church and the Christian that connects worship, study, prayer, and service together as the expected way of life for a person and a people who follow the way of Christ.  And this year the mission emphasis will lead further into outreach and witness with a focus on evangelism.

Check out some great sermons that spoke to me and to our congregation in helpful, transformational ways:  

Mercy & Justice

Swerving or Serving

Mission Transmission

Church Confronting Tough Topics

We've got workshops this Saturday on some tough topics that could transform lives, families, and communities. 

Here's one example:  "How Do I Help Someone With a Drinking Problem?"

Art Mellor will be leading one of the sessions at Trinity on the Hill UMC.  Join the conversation as we become better helpers in the community and better friends in transformational relationships.

Here's more info about our Community Ministries Training.

How to Transform Augusta, GA-- Snow?!

 There are rumors that snow & ice will hit us Tuesday and Wednesday.  Just the mention of such a "once a decade" event triggers a crazy excitement down here in Georgia. 

But snow melts quickly here.  Even today the temperature is supposed to be in the 60's prior to the "weather" coming in cold and messy.

It's our mission emphasis week, so I'm thinking about a more lasting transformation of Augusta and the area.  I'm thinking about this being more like heaven than whatever you might call this "state" that we are in.  For me that would mean folk are mentally healthy, free of addictions, getting education and jobs that fulfill them and fulfill the community.  In such a place everyone would have enough food.  A community with a higher ethic than "everyone get it if you can" would be replaced with higher values of loving our neighbors like we do ourselves.   

Now, I'm old enough to hold on to a dream, yet be realistic that this is tough work.  And I know not everyone desires such things. 

As I study the Bible, and try to follow Christ, and open my life to the Spirit, it seems like God is up to something new and transformational.  I've seen it in many other parts of the world.  Why can't I dream for that, and work for that, here in Augusta, Georgia? 

The greatest realization is that it takes a team to attempt something so audacious.  I certainly don't have the skills, the will power, the resources, and everything else that is necessary to do this sort of thing.  

So, I need you.  I need you more than ever.  I need all of you who posted an MLK quote to jump into the action.  I need folk who've given up on church, yet still have a deep interest in living the way of Christ.  I need some, maybe many, who've never had an interest in church or religion, yet hunger to change the world.  I need a team of transformers who can jump into some deeper conversations to then jump into deeper action. 

This ought to be an exciting week in Augusta whether it snows or not!

¨ Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-7:00 PM, Wesley Hall Dining Room, Togo Update by Dr. Esaho & Beatrice Kipuke

 

¨ Saturday, February 1, 8:30AM-2:00PM, Mission Training Day-

8:30-9:00 AM -Registration & Refreshments in Building A Gathering Area (behind sanctuary).  

9:00-9:50 AM- Opening Assembly in sanctuary featuring Dr. Mike Cash.

Session 1– 10:00-10:50AM

Session 2– 11:00AM-11:50AM

Lunch– 12:00-12:45PM, $10 for lunch & snacks.

Session 3– 1:00-1:50PM

 

Community Summit:  Session 1– 10:00AM-10:50AM

Sarah McDonald & friends- Homelessness & Poverty—A004

Travis McNeal & friends- Hunger- A153

Jason Moore, Doug Frierson, & friends—Public Education—A259

Lauren Spivey & Kathy Tuckey—Aging & Alzheimer’s – A255

Natalie Paine & friends—Crime & Violence— A267

Thurman Norville—Families in Augusta— A261

Shannon Stephens, Brian James, Anne Watts- Life Skills: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, & Habits- A256

 

Session 2– 11:00-11:50AM

Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261

Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian Community Development in Macon- A153

Mr. Gary Locklear– Connecting Church & Community in NC- A259

Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction & Substance Abuse Ministry- A256

Rev. Jeffrey Salley & Mrs. Shirley Townsend-Jones– SC Churches Partnered in Cooperative Ministry- A255

Rev. Carolyn Poling– Youth Ministry as Outreach- A004

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242

Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone: Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267

 

Session 3-

Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261

Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian Community Development in Macon- A153

Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction & Substance Abuse Ministry- A256

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242

Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone: Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267

Rev. Shannon Karafanda– Family Ministry as Outreach- A004

Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs. Danielle Meyer— Housing Ministry in Augusta-  A259

Mrs. Marsha Jones– Christian Re-Neighboring in Augusta/Harrisburg- A255

Check out the displays, enjoy conversation and networking, ask questions that will help your local ministry, partner in ways that transform church, agencies, lives, and communities.

Sunday, February 2, Mission Challenge Day

Mission Reports in Sunday School Classes, 9:45-10:45AM

Local Outreach Update– Ann Arnette & team, including Marsha Jones & Gloria Norwood with the St. Luke/Harrisburg story, in Open Door Class, A004

National Outreach Update– Steve Wallace & Scott Parrish in Faith Builders class, with updates on North GA conference work in Russia, Choir Room/B242

International Outreach Update– Danny Newman & team, including fresh news from India– Chapel/A151

Worship at 8:30AM & 11:00AM offers opportunity to Celebrate what God has done through us in mission, and to hear the Challenge for the coming year in local, national, and international outreach.  Prayerfully consider how you will follow Christ this year as you Pray, Pay, & Go in mission.  It takes all of us doing our part, using our gifts from God, in order for the Church to be effective in mission. 

TOC is featuring many local experts you may know, plus:

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of APEX Youth Center & Associate Pastor of People’s UMC, 2013 CNN Hero, New Orleans; Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs. Danielle Meyer, Action Ministries at Maxwell Apartments; Rev. Stacey Harwell, Minister of Community Building at Centenary UMC/Macon; Rev. Shannon Karafanda, Associate Pastor at Cornerstone UMC; Mr. Gary Locklear, Church & Community Worker, & North Carolina UM Conference Lay Leader; Mr. Art Mellor, SPSARV Executive Director; Mrs. Julia Nielsen, Executive Director at Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone and Minister at New Horizons United Methodist Church, Columbus, OH; Rev. Carolyn Poling, Associate Pastor, Impact Church, Atlanta GA; Rev. Jeffrey Salley, Director, of the Bennettsville-Cheraw Area Cooperative Ministry, & Shirley Townsend Jones, Church & Community Worker.; Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge, Executive Director of the North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council.

TOC 2014 will be complete if you take your place in the excitement of “The Kingdom is Near!”

 

 

 

Trinity Outreach Celebration 2014: "The Kingdom is Near!"

Trinity Outreach Celebration 2014:  “The Kingdom is Near!”

Information & registration here

¨Saturday, January 25, 8:30AM– 12Noon, Servant Day with projects in church & community! 

¨ Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-7:00 PM, Wesley Hall Dining Room, Togo Update by Dr. Esaho & Beatrice Kipuke

¨ Saturday, February 1, 8:30AM-2:00PM, Mission Training Day- We need every church group represented & as many members as possible for this extraordinary training event which could have so much impact in our own community. 

8:30-9:00 AM -Registration & Refreshments in Building A Gathering Area (behind sanctuary).  

9:00-9:50 AM- Opening Assembly in sanctuary featuring Dr. Mike Cash.

Session 1– 10:00-10:50AM

Session 2– 11:00AM-11:50PM

Lunch– 12:00-12:45PM

Session 3– 1:00-1:50PM

Community Summit:  Session 1– 10:00AM-10:50AM

Sarah McDonald & friends- Homelessness & Poverty—A004

Travis McNeal & friends- Hunger- A153

Jason Moore, Doug Frierson, & friends—Public Education—A259

Lauren Spivey & Kathy Tuckey—Aging & Alzheimer’s – A255

Natalie Paine & friends—Crime & Violence— A267

Thurman Norville—Families in Augusta— A261

Shannon Stephens, Brian James, Anne Watts- Life Skills: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, & Habits- A256

 

Session 2– 11:00-11:50AM

Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261

Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian Community Development in Macon- A153

Mr. Gary Locklear– Connecting Church & Community in NC- A259

Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction & Substance Abuse Ministry- A256

Rev. Jeffrey Salley & Mrs. Shirley Townsend-Jones– SC Churches Partnered in Cooperative Ministry- A255

Rev. Carolyn Poling– Youth Ministry as Outreach- A004

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242

Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone: Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267

 

Session 3-

Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261

Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian Community Development in Macon- A153

Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction & Substance Abuse Ministry- A256

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242

Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone: Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267

Rev. Shannon Karafanda– Family Ministry as Outreach- A004

Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs. Danielle— Housing Ministry in Augusta-  A259

Mrs. Marsha Jones– Christian Re-Neighboring in Augusta/Harrisburg- A255

Check out the displays, enjoy conversation and networking, ask questions that will help your local ministry, partner in ways that transform church, agencies, lives, and communities.

¨   Sunday, February 2- Challenge Day

Mission Reports in Sunday School Classes, 9:45-10:45AM

Local Outreach Update– Ann Arnette & team, including Marsha Jones & Gloria Norwood with the St. Luke/Harrisburg story, in Open Door Class, A004

National Outreach Update– Steve Wallace & Scott Parrish in Faith Builders class, with updates on North GA conference work in Russia, Choir Room/B242

International Outreach Update– Danny Newman & team, including fresh news from India– Chapel/A151

 Worship at 8:30AM & 11:00AM offers opportunity to Celebrate what God has done through us in mission, and to hear the Challenge for the coming year in local, national, and international outreach.  Prayerfully consider how you will follow Christ this year as you Pray, Fund, & Go in these vital mission partnerships.  

TOC is featuring many local experts you may know, & we've shared many blog posts in the last month introducing the speakers & sharing mission partner devotions.  Here's a list of our "out of town" guests:

Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of APEX Youth Center & Associate Pastor of People’s UMC, 2013 CNN Hero, New Orleans; Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs. Danielle Meyer, Action Ministries at Maxwell Apartments; Rev. Stacey Harwell, Minister of Community Building at Centenary UMC/Macon; Rev. Shannon Karafanda, Associate Pastor at Cornerstone UMC; Mr. Gary Locklear, Church & Community Worker, & North Carolina UM Conference Lay Leader; Mr. Art Mellor, SPSARV Executive Director; Mrs. Julia Nielsen, Executive Director at Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone and Minister at New Horizons United Methodist Church, Columbus, OH; Rev. Carolyn Poling, Associate Pastor, Impact Church, Atlanta GA; Rev. Jeffrey Salley, Director, of the Bennettsville-Cheraw Area Cooperative Ministry, & Shirley Townsend Jones, Church & Community Worker.; Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge, Executive Director of the North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council.

TOC 2014 will be complete if you take your place in the excitement of “The Kingdom is Near!”

 

 

 

Augusta/Richmond County as the Kingdom of God?

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be they name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.

If you are like me you might pray the Lord's Prayer almost daily, or at the least a time or two each week.  "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" is a line that often catches my attention as I'm aware of what life is really like.  As much as anything I feel the rub, the chafing, as I long for the way God desires the world to be and that deep longing most of us have for everything to be "right."

So, I'm looking for some co-conspirators, some revolutionaries, some anarchists who are no longer content with the way things are in Augusta, Georgia- my immediate world- and yearn for the Kingdom of God to more visible in our city and our area.  Who are the followers of Christ ready to take up the cross in our own city? 

  

I served Trinity on the Hill UMC 1994-2000 as program director, and then returned in 2007 to serve with outreach and mission.  So, I've seen the changes in Augusta over the years.

Some numbers for you to consider:

• The population of Augusta/Richmond County is around 200,000.  
• 55% African American and 39% white. 
• 28% of the over 75,000 households have children under 18.  
• 24% of the population lives below the poverty level
• August 2013 the unemployment rate in Augusta was 10.1%
• 56% of the population owns a home
• A count in the summer 2013 revealed 808 homeless adults
• Richmond County graduation rate in 2012 from high school was 59.19%.
• The county teen pregnancy rate in 2009 was 87.2 per 1000 for ages 15-19.  With a high rate of sexually active teens there is also a high rate of STD's.
• 20% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher.
• In 2013 there were 2775 cases of domestic violence reported to the sheriff's office
• Last year there were 132 cases of child abuse/molestation reported.  
• There were 1355 cases of narcotics. 
• Total arrests in all cases were 4886

As I think about Augusta GA I wonder what God is doing here, and what God expects us to do.  What is the Kingdom of God recreating here in lives, in families, in neighborhoods and workplaces, and across the city?  How does God's will need to "be done" in our daily lives?

These are some of the issues, questions, and practical discussions we'll be having during the next 10 days as we emphasize community ministry and "The Kingdom is Near."  Find the details and registration at Community Ministry as we are excited to host such a stellar group of community and mission experts.  Might this become a Christian movement that makes all the difference in our lives and in the lives of those we serve?       

TOC Devo: That Dog Ain't Gone Bite You!

That Dog Ain’t Gone Bite You!

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9

David is 9 years old and fearless.  He don’t like pink, he don’t like school and he don’t take no lip. During Kid’s With a Future, a tutor brought David to me because he’d hit another boy.  I asked Blake, the tutor, to walk David home and explain to his Momma what had happened.  Soon Blake was back.  He told me that he had walked David home but hadn’t talked to his Mother because the meanest looking dog he’d ever seen was tied up on the front porch and he wasn’t taking a chance with that dog.  I decided to walk down to the house because I’d never seen a dog there before.  Sure enough the most square-headed and mangiest looking dog I’d ever seen was tied up and lying on the porch. 

I used my best dog-wooing voice to tell him what a pretty boy he was and what a good dog he was and then I put my foot on the bottom step. Immediately the dog stood up, lowered his head and let go a low growl.  I took a giant step across the sidewalk and moved into the street.  The dog started towards the porch steps and I started calling David’s Momma.  Soon the front door opened and Susan came out.  “Will you please put your dog in the house so we can talk?” I asked.   She squinted for a second and then bent over laughing, “Miz Marsha, that dog ain’t gone bite you. He ain’t got no teeth!” 

St. Luke UMC is poor, needy, unpredictable and indescribably wonderful. Any illusions we may have had about being in control disappeared a while back but in the busyness I often forget.   Sometimes I am jolted by circumstance beyond my control and my impotence paralyzes me with doubt and fear. I am not in control.  Susan’s laughter and the words she spoke that day became a rarely experienced and desperately needed moment of transcendence.

 Are you afraid to share your gifts with the people who need them the most?  Does the thought of worshipping with folks who might need more that you can give fill you with anxiety?  Does remembering that you are not in control leave you paralyzed by doubt and fear?  Then repeat with me the words of David’s Momma, Susan, “That dog ain’t gone bite you!  He ain’t got no teeth.”

Marsha Jones