My Clergy Cluster/Small Group for the Past Eight Years

Here's a picture of my clergy cluster/small group over the past eight years.

This was taken at a restaurant today to celebrate the commissioning of Pastor Sandy Linger Santos (Union UMC & Jamestown UMC) and Peggy Cromer (New Jasper UMC & Bellbrook UMC.) To be commissioned means that they are now "provisional members" with the goal of becoming Elders in two years which means to be a full clergy member of the West Ohio Conference through Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service, and be appointed to serve a church full time and be itinerant (be subject to moving at the discretion of the Bishop.)

We also said farewell to Pastor Tim Holly (Cedarville UMC), Peggy Cromer (New Jasper UMC & Bellbrook), and me (Faith Community UM) as the three of us are concluding our appointments at our respective churches.

Our clergy cluster has served as our small group over these past several years. Here are some of the things we have done as a small group:

• Met twice a month for the purpose of sharing how we are doing in the areas of our personal discipleship as well as our pastoral responsibilities. Once a month, we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together as a group.
• Attended overnight retreats for ministry planning and personal spiritual growth.
• Serve lunches at Dayton: St. Paul's Outreach Center; work on Habitat for Humanity homes together; & served meals for our annual Common Cup basket auction/dinner fundraiser.
• Participate in the Wednesday Common Cup program by leading some of the growth groups & serving Holy Communion on a rotating basis during the prayer chapel time.

Thank you God, for the gift of having a group such as this over these many years to help me be a better follower of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Exciting News at Bellbrook UMC

Construction on an addition to the Bellbrook UMC, one of our fifteen Common Cup shared ministry churches is moving forward at a fast pace. They are hoping to complete this project by this September and they have scheduled a consecration service with our Bishop in October.

Yesterday, I was given a tour through the new addition as workers were busy on various projects, one of which included painting the exterior brick white to match the existing church building. Church members provide refreshments to the workers on a weekly basis as part of their radical hospitality ministry.

The new addition will include a fellowship hall area for meals and programs, office space, restrooms, a kitchen (although kitchen appliances will not be part of this building phase), a spacious nursery, and a large hallway.

Pictured above is Pastor Terry Heck standing in front of the new addition.

Congratulations, Rev. Eric Bondapa!

Here is a recent e-mail I received from Rev. Eric Bondapa, the pastoral student from Africa attending Africa University. Our Common Cup ministry of 15 United Methodist churches was supposed to host Eric this past June and July as a student intern but his visa was denied.

Eric continues to keep in touch with us even though we still have not met face to face. He is truly an expression of the abundant and overflowing love of Jesus Christ.

Here's the e-mail I received from him today:

Dear Pastor Robert

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who is our Lord and savior.

I wanted to let you know and my churches that God has given me, that I finished the examens this Wen 29 and I'am now waiting for graduation in June 06. Let me also express my gratitude to you and to all the Churches that supported my education in 2008. You must be proud of this great achievement although it was not easy for me, but the dream is now a reality.. Praise God, keep praying for me because I need to further with my education

Love in Jesus Christ

Rev Eric

Go to Your Room!

Today marked the first day our Common Cup churches worked on the bedroom we officially adopted at the downtown Xenia building which is being refurbished for homeless families in Greene County.

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) presently helps homeless families at another site in Xenia which does not provide overnight accommodations. Once this new facility is ready for occupancy, families won't have to travel to other churches each night for sleeping arrangements.

We were small in numbers today, but had a Common Cup flavor with two of our United Methodist churches represented. Today, we sanded down the first application of mud on the dry wall of the bedroom and some of our Common Cup members helped to fix a door (see picture.)

How exciting to know that when this building opens, Common Cup will have contributed to the remodeling of one of the several rooms in this needed facility for the homeless.

A lot more needs to be done to get our room ready, but at least we got off to a good start today!

A Brief Interview with a 6 Year Old Catholic/Methodist

Check out my brief video interview with Gage, a six year old who helped with a funeral lunch at Cedarville UMC today, one of our Common Cup churches. He takes his faith seriously!

Priceless!

Sunday Morning Road Trip - Eleazer UMC

Cindy Liming, a member of Faith Community, is in the process of visiting all 15 Common Cup churches on Sunday mornings so she can become better acquainted with her fellow Common Cup brothers and sisters in Christ.

I asked Cindy to send me a brief summary of each of her visits as a way of highlighting how Christ is at work in each of our Common Cup Churches. Here are her reflections from her recent trip to Eleazer UMC:

"Yesterday, I was able to visit the beautiful little Eleazer United Methodist Church. The motto is "the little church that cares" and I think that sums up the congregation. The people who were there were as warm and friendly as all the others I have been meeting along my journey. I was able to sit on the "sun" side of the church and so I enjoyed watching the light shine through the stained glass windows.

There is a cedar tree right outside the window and when the wind blew its branches, the light danced on the pew. I really was paying attention, but I noticed this during the quiet times. Pastor John Beers gave a wonderful sermon and again, I really felt like I had been invited to a family's reunion. We sang some very nice hymns accompanied so well by the organ and piano.

The Holy Spirit is strong within and among us, Pastor Robert, and I was witness once again to God's goodness through His people."

Sunday Morning Road Trip - Union UMC

Cindy Liming, a member of Faith Community, is in the process of visiting all 15 Common Cup churches on Sunday mornings so she can become better acquainted with her fellow Common Cup brothers and sisters in Christ.

I asked Cindy to send me a brief summary of each of her visits as a way of highlighting how Christ is at work in each of our Common Cup Churches. Here are her reflections from her recent trip to Union UMC:

"This morning I visited Union United Methodist church. This is a pretty, little country church where the regular members stretch out their hand to welcome a stranger with a smile and a greeting. The fellowship did not go unnoticed, everyone seems truly glad to see each other. I met a couple of good friends that I didn't know attended there."

I might add here that Union UMC has a unique distinction of our fifteen Green County and northern Clinton County Common Cup churches. It's the oldest. Here's a brief historical sketch of this church. More information can be found on our Common Cup website.

"In 1807, after meeting for several years, the church was officially established. In 1810, a new name was given to the congregation, when it became known as the Union Methodist Society. Most historians agree that the church received its name because of the "union" of several families who lived in the vicinity and worshiped together.

After the church was officially established, a tract of land was procured and a log structure was erected on the site. The main building was approximately three feet square with a gable roof and clapboard shingles with a chimney built of sticks and mud. With the addition of a puncheon floor, the building served as church, school and meeting house. Crude benches were constructed, and the outer walls chinked and daubed with mud.

A 16 by 16 foot log cabin was erected for the teacher, John Findlay, who was a grad­uate of Princeton University. He began his classes in the Union Seminary on Jan. 1, 1810. Apparently this was the first organized school in the county, and according to tradi­tion, only the second Methodist Sunday School established in Ohio."

From Brazil to the USA

Congratulations Gerald! Today, one of our Common Cup church members, Gerald, husband of Pastor Sandy Linger Santos (Jamestown UMC & Union UMC) was sworn in as a US citizen at the Dayton Courthouse.

Church members from Gerald and Sandy's churches along with the Common Cup clergy were on hand to witness this momentous and joyous occasion. To round out the Common Cup connection, Federal Judge Rose, member of Faith Community UM, presided over the swearing in ceremony.

It was a day to be proud of being a citizen of the USA and part of the wonderful Common Cup shared ministry of Xenia area United Methodist churches working together to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Check out the short video interview I had with Gerald in the courtroom immediately before the interview.

Sunday Morning Road Trip - Old Town UMC

Cindy Liming, a member of Faith Community, is in the process of visiting all 15 Common Cup churches on Sunday mornings so she can become better acquainted with her fellow Common Cup brothers and sisters in Christ.

I asked Cindy to send me a brief summary of each of her visits as a way of highlighting how Christ is at work in each of our Common Cup Churches. Here are her reflections from her recent trip to Old Town UMC:

.

"This morning I had the privilege to visit Oldtown United Methodist Church. What a joy my visit turned out to be. As I opened the front door, I heard many voices chattering away and when I opened the doors to the sanctuary I saw why- everyone inside was visiting with each other as if they were all at a family reunion. I met Pastor Hemming and several others and was welcomed as only a family can welcome a visitor.

I knew a few of the members because of Common Cup and Marietta Koloszi took care of making sure I met other members as well. We sang some familiar hymns and members contributed to the service with news or updates about absent members. We prayed together and took Communion at the rail.

The Gospel reading was from Mark about how a man possessed by an evil spirit was the one who recognized Jesus. Pastor explained that the devil feared Christ and knew why he was among us. I didn't realize that the possessed man was the only one who knew this until Pastor Hemming talked about it. Of course, Jesus freed the man from the demonic possession and then Pastor segued into how we should let our faith be known through the way we live our lives. I am bad at paraphrasing things others have already said better, but that is the nutshell as I understood his words.

Once again, I am so happy to say the Spirit of the Lord is alive and well within the walls of one of our Common Cup Churches and I will be happy to visit Oldtown again."

Update on Rev. Eric Bondapa

Here is a recent e-mail I received from Rev. Eric Bondapa, the pastoral student attending Africa University. Our Common Cup ministry of 15 United Methodist churches was supposed to host Eric this past June and July as a student intern but his visa was denied.

Eric continues to keep in touch with us even though we still have not met face to face. He is truly an expression of the abundant and overflowing love of Jesus Christ.

Here's the e-mail I received from him today:

I first greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and savior.

I wanted to thank you for your prayers, my results were okay and I'am now sure of graduation in June. May you please tell my churches that I love so much, their prayers were heard by God and I'am now about to finish my studies here at Africa University, so that I can go and serve God. It was a difficult time being a student here, learning in a new country, with a new language, but God is good, yes, he is good all the time.

I thank you for your support, may God bless you and assist you in your ministry.

Love in Jesus-Christ

Rev Eric

Sunday Morning Road Trip - Evangelical UMC

Cindy Liming, a member of Faith Community, is in the process of visiting all 15 Common Cup churches on Sunday mornings so she can become better acquainted with her fellow Common Cup brothers and sisters in Christ.

I asked Cindy to send me a brief summary of each of her visits as a way of highlighting how Christ is at work in each of our sister churches. Two Sundays ago, she visited Evangelical UMC in Xenia and here is what she experienced:

"This morning, I attended the Sunday morning service at the the Evangelical United Methodist Church on Third Street. I have a couple of friends who attend there and I recognized several people because they come to Common Cup on Wednesdays.

I felt like I was at a family's reunion - the fellowship and closeness amongst the members were so strong and sincere! I felt the power of the Holy Spirit in that place as I sat listening to the beautiful music the choir provided. Pastor Rex greeted everyone as if he had known them all his life (maybe he has) and the children enjoyed and, even better, understood what he told them during his talk with them.

I have had a warm and peaceful feeling all day as I remember my experience from this morning - such nice people in such a pretty church with the sunlight filtering in through the beautiful stained glass windows - offering praises to God through Jesus Christ.

I think the key words for the people of this church are WITH EACH OTHER. They talk with each other, pray with each other, laugh and cry with each other, share with each other, and all their actions are done with God's love. I felt welcomed by their friendship and I hope to visit again."

Minus 9 in Minster, Ohio - Brrrrrrr

The weather is cold outside (minus 9) but the Spirit is warm here at Maria Stein Catholic retreat center (Maria Stein, Ohio) which is about an hour and a half northwest of Xenia. I'm here with 9 other United Methodist pastors drawing closer to God, sharpening our ministry focus, enjoying awesome meals, and joining in worship/prayer.

Here are some specific focuses of our time on this retreat:

• Reviewing planning needs for ministry in 2009 including our hosting of the April 23-25 Wesleyan Institute which will be held at Faith Community.


• Looking carefully at our Lenten focus (February 25 through April 11) "The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations," a United Methodist resource designed to help churches faithfully live out our core values of Radical Hospitality, Passioniate Worship, Faith Forming Relationships, Risk Taking Mission, & Extravagant Generosity.


• Heard a presentation on key elements of effective church leadership, borrowing a page from FDR and his focus back in 1933 on making the first 100 days of his presidency focused and strategic to help the country.


• Personally, I have been able to read several chapters from the book, "Disappointment with God" by Phillip Yancey which I will be using as a resource for one of the sermons in the "Though I Walk Through the Valley" sermon series in April/May.

This is our 2nd annual clergy retreat at this location and we have really enjoyed it. Retreats have a way of building community, trust, collegiality, and a renewed faith. Which reminds me...We learned so much about each other by playing the simple game, "Apples to Apples" last night! Yes, memories are being made. Thanks be to God!

Another Update from Eric Bondapa

Eric Bondapa, the Africa University student who our Common Cup ministry was going to host this past summer and who is studying for the pastoral ministry, sends this word of thanks for the recent love gift our churches sent him. We also gave a financial gift to Africa University.

This past week, Faith Community focused on tithing our financial gifts toward the work of Christ and the church as part of our 40 day stewardship campaign. Eric's letter is another reminder among many of why it is sheer joy to offer our gifts to those in need. Enjoy his letter.

Eric's Letter:

To all members of common cup ministry:

I have come through this letter explain my gratitude and acknowledge receiving 900$ from you, which is directed to my studies at Africa University . Because of the love shown to me, I wanted to thank all the churches that participated in raising this money. For me it is a great benediction to have this money, really this will make a difference in all my life. Because, It will keep reminding me of God's working through his people. It is true that when we receive from God, he also except us to be faithful servants.

I thank the Churches for having this spirit of sharing, because the Bible says "when you do this to the least of these people, you do it to me." "Jesus-Christ"

I realized God's love when I received this money for my studies. This transfer God's love that reaches my life. You are doing it through your hands to touch all my Love; this is an extension of God's love, reaching somebody who is really in need through your sharing of the resources. Moreover, for all my lovely congregations, I have received your love with great joy, the only thing is that this gift reminds me to work faithfully to God and continues to love him forever. Thank you very much for accepting to respond to the Divine duty. May God assist you and bless you all. In the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit Amen!!!

Rev Eric Kalamba Bondapa
Third year Student
Africa University

An Historic Day for Common Cup

This afternoon, I had the honor of presiding at an historic Church Conference for Paintersville UMC and Eleazer UMC, two of our sixteen Common Cup Churches. Each church voted unanimously for Paintersville to merge with Eleazer and become one church, keeping the Eleazer name and using the Eleazer church building and property.

Future decisions still need to made regarding the use of the Paintersville building. The historical information and several items in the Paintersville church will need to be incorporated into the new combined congregation at Eleazer.

The United Methodist Book of Discipline is very clear that the purpose of a merger should only be considered if it will help the two congregations to more effectively fulfill their ministry. It's interesting that this is also the purpose behind our Common Cup shared ministry model of sixteen area churches (now fifteen!) The Common Cup mission statement is to be more effective by making disciples of Jesus Christ together for the transformation of the world.

Today, the two congregations shared a meal after worship, conducted the joint Church Conferences, and shared in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I took the above picture of the members of Eleazer and Paintersville who attended the meeting today. Notice the smiles!

Let's keep the newly formed Eleazer congregation under the leadership of Pastor John Beers in our prayers as they continue their transition of bringing their resources together for the sake of the kingdom.

Update on Local Links Goal

Last week, about 10 folks were trained to be local links for the September 23 & 24 Impact World Tour which will be held at Xenia High School. A local link is someone who has been trained to be a support person for someone who accepts Jesus Christ.

Tonight, we had another group of folks trained at our Wednesday Common Cup program at Faith Community, and yes, we finally got our electrical power back after high winds from Hurricane Ike blew through here Sunday afternoon. Praise God!

It looks like about 15 to 20 people were trained over the past two Wednesdays at Common Cup. Our goal was 100 but those we trained will help 15 to 20 new Christians keep moving forward in their walk with Jesus several weeks after the Impact World Tour is over.

The picture above is from our 2nd and final local link training tonight at the church.

10 Trained - 90 More to Reach Our Goal!

Good news! Tonight at our Wednesday Common Cup program, ten people received the first part of a two-part training to become Local Links for the Impact World Tour campaign which will be held September 23 & 24 at Xenia High School. Next Wednesday, September 17, beginning at 6:30 P.M., the 2nd part of the training will be offered as well as the 1st part for those who weren't able to attend tonight's training. (The 2nd part of the training will be offered first.)

A trained local link is someone who will attend the September 23 & 24 Impact World Tour events at Xenia High School, come alongside a person who accepts Christ, and offer a personal contact over the next eight weeks by encouraging that person in the faith and inviting that person to be involved in a fellowship group at a church.

For those who weren't able to attend tonight's training, you can still become a trained Local Link by coming to our Common Cup program next Wednesday, September 17, and receive the two-part training.

Our goal as a Common Cup is to train at least 100 people to become local links. The United Methodist Churches in our Common Cup ministry represent over 2,000 members. We can do it!

Change the World Conference - October 24 & 25

Our 16 Xenia area United Methodist Common Cup churches are encouraging church members to register for the Friday to Saturday October 24-25 "Change the World Conference" at Ginghamsburg UMC located in Ginghamsburg, Ohio.

The plenary speakers will be Brian McLaren, Jim Wallis, Adam Hamilton, and Mike Slaughter. There will also be break-out sessions on many different areas of the life of the church.

For lay members with at least 3 from one church, cost is only $119 per person. The clergy rate is $79. I have been challenging Faith Community to have at least 25 lay people from our church attend this conference.

As a follow-up to the "Change the World" Conference, our Wednesday Common Cup Food Court/Growth Group program will offer a conference debriefing gathering on Wednesday, October 29, 7:00 P.M. at Faith Community. This is open to those who attended and those who are interested in learning about what was shared at the conference.

"Change the World" sounds a lot like our church's mission statement - "Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

Sign up soon!

Methodists to the Rescue!

Imagine a revival coming to our local community which has the potential of at least 1,000 people making decisions to become followers of Jesus Christ. Who is going to stand next to each of these new believers, many of whom will be children and youth, since the revival is focused on reaching them?

Who is going to offer an encouraging word to a 12 year old who has just said that she wants to be a follower of Jesus? Who is going to make a personal contact of hope and support for a 20 year old over the first few weeks following his decision to become a Christian? Who is going to help the 17 year old find a loving and supportive small group which will help this new believer to begin the journey we call "discipleship?"

The number of Methodists in Xenia and the surrounding area through our Common Cup shared ministry is about 2,000 of us. With our Wednesday Common Cup Food Court/Growth Group program getting ready to start in September, what would it be like if at least 100 of our 2,000 members received training at our Common Cup program to become local links for the revival that will be coming to Xenia toward the end of September?

One of our Common Cup pastors will be available from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. (just following the Food Court) on September 10 & 17 at Faith Community UM to provide this local link training for the Impact World Tour revival. You will need to attend both of these training events.

Helping people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to receive encouragement and support in the beginning stages of discipleship is in our DNA as Methodists. Come to the two training events on September 10 & 17, 6:30 P.M.

Methodists to the rescue!

Greetings from Rev. Eric Kalamba Bondapa

Here is a recent e-mail I received from Rev. Eric Bondapa, the pastoral student attending Africa University. Our Common Cup ministry was supposed to host Eric this past June and July as a student intern but his visa was denied. I sent warm greetings to Eric in response to his e-mail and told him how proud we are of his accomplishments.

Eric's Letter:

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who is our savior.

We really thank you for your support and prayers from the day we departed from Zimbabwe to DRC, now we are back to complet our education in the final year. We still need your prayers and support while we are here at school.

I greet the Church with a great love in my heart hopping God will make a way so that we meet with you.

I was ordained this summer, thank you for prayers, may God bless you

I love you all and God bless you

Rev Eric Kalamba

Common Cup Softball Team - '08

The first ever Common Cup co-ed softball team ended it's Xenia recreational league season tonight with a loss to finish with a record of one win and several defeats. This might seem depressing but consider how expansion teams have fared for their inaugural years:


1962 New York Mets - 40-120
1972 Philadelphia 76ers - 9-73
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 0-14

Despite the lack of victories in the win column, it was great to see team-like Christian fellowship and the Common Cup shared ministry spirit prevalent at each of our games. We averaged 4.5 fans a game which made it even more exciting!

A big thank you to the Common Cup softball players (some of whom aren't in this photo which was taken at tonight's game) and to Jason and Kristy Christian who served as managers/organizers. Plans are to have another co-ed Common Cup softball team next year and we'll begin advertising early in '09.

Check out the brief post game/post season interview between the Owner/General Manager and Manager Jason "Dusty" Christian.