Youth Mission Camp

The first thing I noticed was the old white fence that was about to fall down. Our TUMC in house Youth Mission camp was partnering for the day with a sister group called the Baltimore County Christian Work Camp and we were there to build a ramp and fix a shed, but the old rickety fence stood out to me. We easily had enough youth to complete the 12 foot ramp, the shed AND paint a fence. The “J” in me, (Meyers -Briggs stuff) would not be able to take standing around waiting for a turn to help while there was a fence to paint. So, off I went to buy a few cans of paint, and once again, launch us into a new painting project, even though none of us had our painting clothes.

After receiving joy-filled permission from the owners we began our painting project, even as others of our team were completing the tasks of fixing the shed and making the ramp. The owner came out and the story came tumbling out–his wife had cancer, it was terminal; at first there was remission, now it was everywhere. Then he had been in the hospital; and her elderly mother lived with them. Life was overwhelming. I offered to pray with them, which we did do and will continue to do.

But meanwhile, we were giving that place an overhaul. A new coat of paint dresses up everything. A new coat of paint gives fresh vision out of which to look at life. A new coat of paint takes off the weariness and, if just for a moment, allows fresh air to come into the room. A new coat of paint gives the eyes something new to look at as they stare out of the window from a home that used to be the place of joy, and has become a prison of disease. A new coat of paint……

I wish the new coat of paint could take away the cancer. I wish we could slap a new coat of paint onto the organs of the woman that were covered by disease. I wish we could erase the disease by our work and our actions. Just for a day, we helped them smile.

But we are covered with a new coat of paint in a different kind of way. Jesus covers us with his blood, bought on a cross for your sins and mine, so that when we enter into eternity, we are like the picket fence that had the new coat of paint. We are covered in the blood of a savior who cares for us enough to redeem us with a different kind of a “new coat of paint.” Our new coat of paint brings us to the place where Holiness resides, and we can only stand there before the savior because we have been offered that new coat of paint. Like the owner of the house, we have to receive the offer of being painted with a resounding “yes.”

A ramp, a fixed shed and a new coat of paint will bring temporary smiles to those who have received. We were honored to be the servants for a day. Yet we have One who offers us a fresh coat of paint on a daily basis. One who is overjoyed to serve us. How will we respond when asked if we would like a new coat of paint?

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School isn’t about us, its about the community kids in the neighborhood who don’t have an opportunity to go to church. Yes, there are a variety of kids who show up, but this is an extended ministry of the church, for all children.  VBS gives a sense of belonging not only to the church, but more importantly to God. This is a time when kids get to hear the Good News: God is whispering your name; You are loved; God created you with a purpose. This is indeed not only Good News for our children, but we adults need to hear these messages over and over again as well. We are loved by God. Perhaps the most important message we can hear are the words “Jesus loves me, this I know!”

VBS at TUMC this year will be based on the theme of God’s Backyard Bible Camp Under the Stars. Kids will learn about serving and loving our neighbors. Kids will have the opportunity to learn songs, make crafts and hear about God’s love for them.

Register your child now for VBS, which begins on June 17th. We begin with a meal for the family at 6 pm. The kids will break off in their groups at 6:30. Parents are invited to have dessert with the Pastor while the kids learn how much God loves the little children.

Registration forms can be found here.

Church Family

The following was written by one of our parishioners who was reflecting on her experience in the church. What does the Body of Christ mean to you?

I attended the funeral of a dear friend’s Mother this weekend. I did not know my friend’s mother well, but had met her before and found her to be very kind. I had also not been in this particular church before, and as I sat in the service, I was immediately impressed by how comfortable I felt being there with friends and family who were mostly strangers to me; like I had known them most of my life.
I began to ask myself why this was…it didn’t really make sense…..or did it?
As soon as I entered the church, I was immediately at ease. The folks were friendly–but that was not the only reason. As people told stories that celebrated her life, I felt like they could have been talking about my life. I was raised in a church, meaning, I attended Sunday School, Bible School, worked church suppers and eventually sang with the kids choir and then the adult choir. Now, I admit, I didn’t go every Sunday or attend everything all the time, but felt the connection of fellowship and knew I was a member of that church even at a young age. I was particularly blessed to be able to sit by my grandmother during the worship service and see how important it was to her. I also remember other members of the congregation fondly. They would smile at me, ask me about school and the activities I was participating in, and made me feel like I belonged. I felt loved in this place.
So all these years later, as I hear about a dear lady who lived her life in the church and was friendly and welcoming to all, I hope I can be remembered like that…but most importantly, I want to impress upon parents that belonging to a church family is a great gift given to us by God. Now, if we don’t welcome this gift, it’s like leaving a wonderfully wrapped present addressed to you – left under the tree….but with much more serious consequences. In our society today, many parents were not brought up in a church family (through no fault of their own) and they do not know about this opportunity that is open to them. They may be part of other groups, but kids outgrow their youth leagues, or move on to different schools, and things change. A church family remains constant. Members move, Pastors get relocated….but the body of the church as a whole stays constant.
I myself stopped attending church in college and then when I started working, I wanted my “days off“!! When my kids were born, I knew I wanted them baptized and took them back to the church I was raised in. This really didn’t make sense, looking back, since it was too far away to attend regularly, but it felt like “home” and I hadn’t bothered to find another church closer. When my kids entered elementary school, I really felt a tug to get us all back to church. Something was missing in my life- our lives- and I knew what it was. But I was “too busy” to give up our “weekends”.
As God would have it, my son’s best friend happened to be the son of the Pastor at a church close by. As we got to know the family better and the kids played together, we began attending their church. As God would also have it, the church loved us in and we became a part of this church family that helped raise my own children. My children have moved away now, but when they come back to visit, it is like they are conquering heroes as they are greeted by the members of their church family.
So feeling like you belong to something bigger is great- but when bad things happen, how do you cope? When you attend a church you see life happens in the folks around you….babies are born and baptized…..grandparents die and you see children sad…you go to funerals…you learn to pray for people who have great needs. You hear of healings..You learn that you take meals to folks when they are grieving or have loved ones in the hospital…. You learn to praise God for the great things that happen to you and you learn that He is there to help when the bad stuff comes. And you learn that God’s people are there when the bad stuff comes. You know that if you call a church friend that you will have a ride to chemo and that your whole church will pray for your healing…when your child is sick…your other children will be picked up at the bus stop safely by a church member, if only you are to ask…if your husband decides the marriage is over, you learn that God will never leave you….and that your church family won’t either…You sing songs that will help you learn Bible Verses and you don’t even realize it until you need it – it comes to you.…you hear a message that makes all the difference in your week. You love kids that are not related to you, but since they are part of your church family, you love them and can’t wait to see them each week. If you have lost your best friend, your church friends will help you through and will continue to pray for you….
What I am trying to say, is that God works on this earth through his people-the church. You can come and join in the blessing or you “can have your weekends to yourself.” It is your choice…..please, think about it…..