Why I Attend Church

There are many reasons why people attend or don't attend worship at church. Here are a few,

• I like to hear the choir.
• Christmas is my favorite time of year.
• It's good to see my friends.
• It's become a habit.
• I want to learn about God.
• The service is boring.
• It's the one day I can sleep in.
• The sermon goes on and on.
• They just want my money.

Yes, even we preachers think some of these things from time to time! But not yesterday. Not yesterday.

Yesterday was a day that I was reminded of why I enjoy attending worship each week. Besides the fact that it's my job as a pastor, and that it is so ingrained in me to attend that I can't imagine not attending worship, here's the real reason why I attend worship in church....

Are you ready for this?

Are you sitting down?

The real reason I attend worship on a weekly basis is because God seems to always show up there!

God shows up in worship even if the choir isn't singing, even if the refreshment people had to call in sick, even if it's a sermon that doesn't hit it out of the park. God always seems to be present anyway!

Yesterday was a Sunday morning. I woke up with a heavy heart. A good friend of mine, an elderly retired United Methodist pastor who has probably had the biggest spiritual influence in my life recently passed away after a long struggle with leukemia. 

He served many roles in my life. He was my first District Superintendent when I was just beginning pastoral ministry. He asked me to serve as his Associate Pastor for my second church appointment. We traveled to Israel together. He and his wife became surrogate grandparents for our two children when they were young since our parents lived out of state. Even in the years when we didn't live in the same area, we would meet for coffee, lunch, or breakfast and he always had an encouraging word to share with me.

When I served as his Associate Pastor, he taught me what he knew about the daily grind of being a pastor and the importance of staying focused on Christ. Even though he was a father figure, he was also a great friend.

And so, with a  heavy heart, I went to church yesterday to lead our two worship services. I had chosen to wear a tie that I bought from the same store where he liked to buy his ties. My paisley tie looks a little outdated, but it was a small way for me to pay tribute to my friend that day.

Before the second worship service, a church member commented on my tie! She said, "I like the paisley look!" I know this was subtle, but it was like God tapped me on my shoulder after that little comment and whispered in my ear, "I'm here for you."

Following the last worship service, I met a couple who were visiting their family over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. They live in the opposite corner of the state in a town where my friend and I had served together back in the early 90's. I smiled as I thought about that small world moment. "Of all Sundays," I thought to myself. "Thank you, God."

When this young couple told me that they actually attend the same United Methodist Church where my friend and I had served, that's when I felt another little tap on my shoulder from God. 

"Like I told you, I'm here with you today."

No, there were no big flashes of lightening or burning bushes during worship yesterday, but I was reminded of why I attend worship each week. It's because God attends worship, too.

What a novel thought.

What If We Had Church Media Days Like the BIG 10?

The Big 10 football coaches and top players of each team will be participating in the conference annual "Media Days" in Chicago over the next few days. Every college football fan looks forward to hearing from the coaches and players of their favorite team about the upcoming season.

It's not like we don't already know that Ohio State will be the early favorite to win the conference this year or that Purdue will probably not make it to a bowl game this year. The Big 10 College Football Media Days reminds us that Saturday afternoons will soon have something meaningful to offer besides ho-hum baseball games.

Recently, I was part of a pre-fall Sunday School planning meeting at my church. We discussed our strengths, weaknesses, and what we might do differently this year to help our congregation grow deeper in our faith. There was a sense of excitement as we thought about the approaching new season. This has led me to wonder if churches should participate in a conference wide "Media Days" event around this time of year that is similar to the Big Ten gathering that will be meeting in Chicago. 

What would that look like? Maybe something like this...

Pastor Jones: "Our starting nursery helper from last year had to have foot surgery and won't be ready for our September Kick-Off. We're a little thin in this area, but like I always say, our motto around here is, 'Next volunteer up!'"

Pastor Thompson: "We had a really productive VBS this past summer that brought in a lot of kids, so we are entering the new season with some positive momentum. We're expecting a big crowd when we begin the new season in September. Barring any unexpected vacations next month, there's no reason why we shouldn't fill our pews after Labor Day weekend."

Pastor Smith: "There are a lot of strong churches in our town, so we will have our work cut our for us this year. We are going to need some of our younger members to really step it up if we want to have a decent year."

Pastor Hughes: "We are a senior laden team this year. Several of our members have been around here for over 50 years. There's no reason why we can't be one of the better churches in our conference when it's all said and done. I'd be disappointed if we don't see a lot of new families join the church."

Pastor Lowe: "Our focus is on that first Sunday after Labor Day Weekend, but we also want to be ready for Christmas when we will be putting together a big children's musical this year. We need to begin strong and finish strong. I keep preaching to my flock that we need to be patient and focus on one Sunday at a time."

If we had church "Media Days," what would you be able to share about your church for the upcoming Fall season? What signs of optimism is God offering you during this season of "new beginnings?"

"O God, bless each church in our conference as we plan for our fall season of ministry. May this be a year of new opportunities as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen."

Inappropriate Hymns for a Pastor's First Sunday

Just as there are inappropriate hymn choices for a pastor's farewell Sunday (click here), there are also hymn selections that a new pastor will do well to stay away from for his or her first Sunday. To all my clergy colleagues who are leading worship in their new churches this Sunday and have chosen any of these hymns, hopefully there is time to change the bulletin asap before they get printed for this Sunday.

You're welcome.

#10 

God Forgave My Sin in Jesus' Name

[Your first Sunday is not the time to share your deepest sin with the new congregation.]

#9 

O Mary Don't You Weep, Don't Your Mourn

[Chances are really, really good that there is a parishioner named Mary in your new congregation. Don't choose this one!]

#8 

A Heavy Burden

[I know we pastors can be high maintenance, but let's not get off to a negative start.]

#7 

Restless Sea of Time

[For most congregations, the perception is that the 1950's was the only non-restless "Sea of Time." Think positive and don't use this hymn!]

#6 

Dear Lord, for All in Pain

[Let's not assume that people will not like you on your first Sunday. Again, think happy thoughts!]

#5 

I Want to Be Ready

[I know that we never feel perfectly ready to deliver that all important first sermon, but if we studied the text, prayed, and know what the Lord wants us to say, just let it happen! OK, now go hit it out of the park!]

#4 

Let the People Seek Their Freedom

[OK, this hymn should NOT be sung for the first Sunday because of United Methodist Book of Discipline and governing reasons. Even though this hymn has nothing to do with voting on keeping or not keeping a new pastor, perception is reality. We do not have a congregational method of choosing pastors. Our Bishop makes clergy appointments.]

#3 

Farewell Dear Friends

[Do I even need to explain why you shouldn't use this hymn for your first Sunday? Do you know how crazy tired you will be if you move twice in two weeks??]

#2 

People Look East

[This hymn should not be chosen if the Bishop's office is located east of your new congregation.]

And the top most inappropriate hymn for a pastor's first Sunday is the exact same hymn that is inappropriate for a pastor's last Sunday...

#1 

Move Me, Move Me

Common Phrases You Hear in Church & Their Real Meanings

As I have been watching March Madness basketball games, several catch phrases have been used again and again by the announcers. Even if you're not that much of a basketball fan, you have probably heard these common expressions at one point or another.

• "Shooting a brick" - The ball hits hard on the front of the rim.
• "Burying a three" - Player shoots from "3-point land." (I'm using another catch phrase to   explain the catch phrase!)
• "Coast to Coast"- Player takes the ball from one end of the court to the other.
• "Crash the Boards" - Team doing a good job trying to get rebounds.
• "In the paint" - A lot of the plays are taking place under the basket.
• "Kiss off the window" - Player makes a bank shot.

The church has common catch phrases as well. Here are some examples along with their tongue in cheek translations. Remember, it's OK to poke a little fun at ourselves once in a while!

• "Feeding the flock" - Refers to biblical preaching/teaching to hep the congregation grow in their faith. That sounds so much better than saying, "Learn'n the people."
• "Sending Forth" - Also known as the blessing or the benediction at the end of a service. It's the signal that you need to make sure you have all your belongings before leaving the pew.
• "Let us now partake" - Used during Holy Communion. I don't know why we preachers just don't tell people to "eat" the bread and "drink" from the cup, but it doesn't sound as religious. Have you ever used the word "partake" in everyday conversation? Exactly.
• "I want to encourage you to..." - Used frequently at the beginning of an announcement in which the pastor wants you to volunteer for something.
• "Time for our tithes and offerings" - Translation: Put some money in the plate when it's passed through the pews.
• "Offer the grace" - The prayer prior to the church's covered dish meal and it better be really short. We're hungry.
• "We'll begin with some devotions" - The sharing of a spiritual thought/scripture passage prior to a church meeting so that the church meeting remains civil and people still like each other when it's all over. 
• "Give 'em heaven!" - A quick pep talk offered to a preacher by a kind soul before he/she delivers the sermon. 
• "As you feel led by the Spirit" - This is what a pastor tells a congregation when no ushers are available to direct each row of people to come to the front of the sanctuary during a worship service.
• "I love ya in the Lord" - Our way of telling others that you care about them even though you wouldn't necessarily want to socialize with them outside of church.
• "Let's sing that again, but this time, sing it like you mean it!" - We have some time to kill so let's sing the same verse again. It might also mean that the person working the sound equipment  needs some time to put a new battery in one of the microphones.
• "Oh, bless your heart!" Often heard in the Deep South, this is when somebody in the church is trying to be polite by not saying what they really mean which is, "You are a really weird person and I don't want to be around you." 

My Pen Pal

Since I came to Lancaster First UMC almost six years ago, I have become a pen pal with someone who has an indirect relationship with the church. His name is Tom and he lives in the Columbus area. I probably receive an average of two to four letters per month from Tom.

I don't know a lot about who Tom is. All I know is that he cares about our church enough to frequently send us letters to let us know that he is thinking about us.

Here is a card that I am sending out today that offers early Easter greetings to him. Every time I send Tom a note, I am reminded of how the church doesn't just consist of the folks who attend worship on Sunday mornings. The church also includes people like Tom who are unable to attend worship but who stay in touch through prayer and correspondences.

My Super Bowl Trophy - A Gold Star

Here I am proudly wearing a special gold star given to me by our administrative assistant today because I was the first to give her my articles for our upcoming newsletter. It was a fun way to acknowledge a simple achievement.

This gold star reminds me of a ping pong trophy that I won when I was in Elementary School. I couldn't believe that they gave me a trophy for beating a couple of other kids who weren't very good at ping pong. Nevertheless, it was a symbol of an achievement.

My gold star is a little reminder that it's the little things we do that can have the greatest impact in life.

We don't always give out stars or trophies to people who live out their faith in simple but faithful ways. Sometimes, even our best efforts go ignored. My gold star is a little reminder that it's the little things we do that can have the greatest impact in life.

In a couple of weeks, some billionaire NFL owner will lift up the Superbowl trophy as a sign of victory because of a great accomplishment. As for me, I'm just as content in wearing my gold star. This gold star reminds me to keep doing the little things well, like something as mundane as typing out church newsletter articles. God will take care of the rest.

A Pastor's Appreciation from an Appreciative Pastor - A Tribute to Rev. Ed Zeiders

When I was in the ninth grade. a new pastor was introduced to my home church in Stewartstown, PA. Thirty-six years have gone by and I can still remember his first sermon. It had something to do with a scarecrow.

Scarecrows are meant to keep unwanted creatures out of the garden. Pastor Ed had the opposite mission. He was always inviting us to come into the garden and to get our hands dirty by using our gifts in ministry and service.

"I'll never forget his words to me that day."

When I was in the ninth or tenth grade, he came up to me during a church meeting and said, "God might be calling you to become a pastor someday." What did he see in me to say something like that? I'll never forget his words to me that day. Even though I had dismissed them, they echoed in my mind from time to time.

During my junior year at Temple University in Philadelphia, I finally sensed God's calling for me to enter the pastoral ministry. When I came home during a semester break, I made an appointment to tell Pastor Ed that I had finally said, yes to God's calling. He was holding some papers in his hands at the time and when I told him, he threw them into the air like confetti at a parade and said, "Alright! It's about time!"

He immediately told me about the thirteen United Methodist seminaries and that I should probably go to United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio since that was where he had received his Master of Divinity degree. Little did we know at the time that several years later, he would become president of that same seminary!

After graduating from college the following year, Penny and I were married by Pastor Ed. He provided us with pre-marital counseling to help us prepare for our new covenant together. From there, we packed our Ford Escort and headed west to Dayton, Ohio.

Since Ed and his wife, Joan would later return to Ohio to become the President of the seminary, I had the privilege of hosting Ed for a Holy Week spiritual renewal at a church I was serving at the time. It was a wonderful week with him!

When he accepted an appointment to serve St. Paul's UMC in State College, PA, I stopped by to visit and reminisce with him one summer. He graciously showed me around the church and took me out to lunch.

"Through our baptism, God calls each one of us to use our gifts and bless others."

Under Ed's pastoral leadership  the Stewartstown UMC, several people in the congregation ended up responding to God's calling to enter pastoral ministry. I believe this was due to Ed's uncanny ability to encourage us to listen to God's voice and calling in our lives. It's not always a calling to pastoral ministry. Through our baptism, God calls each one of us to use our gifts and bless others.

Ed has now retired from pastoral ministry and resides in Stewartstown, PA where he is active in the church and sings in the choir. And yes, this is the same church where a ninth grader heard him preach a sermon about a scarecrow thirty-six years ago.

Happy pastor's appreciation month and thanks for being my pastor, Rev. Ed Zeiders!

A Message from Lulu - Sign Up for Your Church Directory Photo Today!

Lulu says, "This is the last week to sign-up for your church pictorial directory picture." Yes, pets are allowed! LifeTouch does a great job. There's no pressure to buy pictures and you get a free photo and church directory! Members & non-members are welcome to sign-up. We want our whole church family in our new church directory! To sign-up, contact the church office at 653-3330 or simply make an appointment on our church website @ www.lancasterfumc.org

Lancaster First UMC Heart Photo - September 7, 2014

This photo was taken at our Crossroads facility to be used for the front cover of our new pictorial directory. We used the shape of a large heart to match our church's logo, "Love First." The photo is also a way of commemorating the 100th anniversary of our church's 1915 photo of the world's largest men's bible class.

[Church Photo for 2014 Pictorial Directory, September 7, 2014]

[World's Largest Men's Bible Class, 1915 - Lancaster First Methodist Episcopal Church]

Highlights of Our Historic Special Sunday Worship Service

Our first combined worship service at our beautiful Crossroads facility was a huge success! It was a great day to share in worship with Grace Community Christian Fellowship.

I had an opportunity for a selfie with co-worship leaders Jeff Graf and Pastor Cheryl.

We packed the main room of our Crossroads facility for worship.

Our praise band led us in opening songs of worship and praise.

Grace Community Christian Fellowship's praise team provided wonderful singing.

The First UMC Chancel Choir shared an inspiring anthem about revival.

It was a day to celebrate the centennial anniversary of having the largest men's bible class in the world back in 1915.

Together, we shared in Holy Communion and heard a message about an abundant feast of love and grace that God has provided for us. This feast includes both spiritual and physical food.

We shared in a church group photo which will be used in our upcoming church pictorial directory. We were in the shape of a large heart to remind us of our church logo that we are to Love First. The photo below is a selfie that I took. The real picture will be so much better! 

Some members requested a selfie with the pastor and another member surprised us with a photo bomb.

We also shared in an old fashioned carry-in meal and yes, there was plenty of fried chicken and tater salad!

We were blessed with beautiful weather, a wonderful spirit, renewed relationships, new friends, and most importantly, the presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord, for making our historic Sunday a blessing to so many people!

Thoughts about Children in Worship

Our church will be including a new card (see below) in our pew pockets at church. This card includes thoughts on being a welcoming church for children and young families. We have been noticing an increase in the number of parents and children attending worship. This is wonderful!

During a recent Sunday, several babies had drowned out a portion of my sermon. No problem. I just kept on preaching and I made a comment that it's so good to hear children in worship. When I got home after the last worship service, I remember being so thankful that we are a church with lots of young families.

There are many churches that are very quiet on Sunday mornings because there are no children attending and no babies crying. I am so grateful that we are a church representing many different ages.

I invite us to read through this list of thoughts on children in worship. These are great reminders on how we can be more like Jesus who said, "Let the children come to me for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

Top Ten Reasons to Be Included in the New Church Pictorial Directory

We are in the process of signing people up for our new church pictorial directory. The directory is for all people in our church (members & non-members.) Sign-ups are available on Sunday mornings at the church as well as on our church website at www.lancasterfumc.org.

Here are my top ten reasons why you should make a photo appointment to be included in our new church directory as soon as possible.

#10 It's free! Now that I have your attention...
#9 You will receive a free 8x10 picture.
#8 You will receive a free copy of the new directory.
#7 If you don't sign-up, you'll have to be in a selfie with Pastor Robert and that will look really weird in the directory.
#6 You can include your pet in the photo.
#5 If we have at least 300 pictures in our directory, our church will receive bonus activity pages and future new members will be able to receive directories.
#4 Someone might nominate you for the ice bucket challenge if you don't.
#3 People in the church will be able to call you by name rather than, "Hey, you."
#2 There is no pressure to buy extra pictures and the whole process will be over before you know it.

And the #1 reason to be included in the new church pictorial directory...

You are a VERY important part of our church family and we want everyone to be included!!

Sharing Hope: Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative Update (Summer, 2014)

Sharing Hope is a program that is designed to help people in our community overcome poverty. Several members of our church are active in this initiative which brings people of various economic levels together for mutual support and encouragement. I posted about Sharing Hope when it was just beginning about a year and a half ago.

Here is the latest newsletter from the Sharing Hope program. It's exciting to know that Sharing Hope is already making a difference in our local community. Our church hosts Sharing Hope on Thursday evenings at our Crossroads facility.

A New Wedding Ceremony Ritual?

Maybe this will become a new part of the wedding cermony ritual - a combining of the church ceremony with the reception. By the looks of the two ladies who get up and leave early at the 1 min., 32 sec., mark, I don't think they like this new ritual very much. I'm with them. Save this stuff for the reception. I can't tell you the number of wedding couples who confuse wedding service music with DJ music for the reception.

 

But I must admit, they did it very well.   

 

New "Praying Hands Bump" for Christians Tired of the Same Old Hand Shake

[Fellow staff member, Jill Warner and I modeling the new and super cool "praying hands bump."]

Are you getting a little tired of the boring handshake during the worship service greeting time? It's a secular gesture anyway and so worldly. Is it a little uncomfortable for you to high five the person seated next to you when you have just heard an awesome choir anthem? Does a fist bump seem out of place when you greet somebody next to the donut table during Fellowship Hour? 

That's why I am proud to announce a new greeting gesture that I think you're going to love. I'm calling it, "The Praying Hands Bump." Here's how this works. During worship, the pastor invites the congregation to greet the people around them. When you approach a co-worshipper, you simply clasp your hands together in the form of a prayer with the other person doing the same and you do the praying hands bump.

This idea came to me one day when I asked myself, "Why does the secular world have to have all of the good greeting gestures?" By the way, contemporary Christian music started when someone asked, "Why does the devil have all the good music?"

There are a couple of advantages to this new 21st century church method of passing the peace. First of all, the praying hands will remind you and your buddy, that you both depend on God because prayer is that important. And secondly, there are a lot less cold and flu germs spreading by having just the sides of our hands bump another set of side hands.

I really think this will catch on. Maybe, I need to make a YouTube video of this so it will go viral and spread across churches all over the world. Maybe the new Pope who is into innovation and change will like it and start a new tradition.

I've introduced this to a few people at church and they are beginning to greet people this way. Don't wait to try this six months or a year from now. Be a trail blazer. Prayer bump your co-pew friend this Sunday!

Strategies for a Vital Church

 

June 1, 2013

 

Dear Friends,

  Recently, our staff met with Rev. Jim Waugh who is the Assistant to the District Superintendent. Jim shared demographic information with us about our Lancaster community. Here are some key points from our time together:

• Servant evangelism ministries in our community such as our monthly Second Saturday outreach are an important way of reaching people beyond our church walls.
• Hospitality ministries are extremely important for first time worship guests especially if they have strollers, infants, and children with behavioral issues. Placing greeters at our parking lots and at our building entrances will go a long way in helping our guests feel a calm and loving spirit upon arrival at our church.
• Short-term study groups tend to work best rather than long-term classes for many people in our community. Also, offering child care during study groups is very important for young families.
• Recreational activities and fun/inexpensive trips to the zoo, park, etc. are usually well received.
• Hosting special family friendly events designed for the community provide a bridge for people to begin attending church.
• Finance/stewardship/budgeting classes appeal to many people in our community who are experiencing high debt.
• A Sunday School program that offers both a traditional curriculum as well as a more experiential based approach is desired. The diversity of educational needs in our community shows that both approaches are important.
• People who are not accustomed to tithing their money on a regular basis to the church are more likely to donate items or offering money for specific needs.

  There are also other important points that we are discussing about our surrounding Lancaster community. It’s interesting that we have already been focusing on some of these areas. I invite us to pray about how we might continue to be a church that reaches out to our community with the love of Jesus Christ.

  Serving with you,

Pastor Robert

New Welcome to Lancaster First UMC Video

This will be part of the gift package that first time worship guests will receive on Sunday mornings at our two welcome stations.  If you would like to sign up to help at the welcome station, let us know. Sign-up sheets are available at the cart with the balloons in our church parlor. We have two shifts per Sunday. A big thanks to John Coen for putting this video together.

Please share this video with friends who you would like to invite to our church.

2013 Vision Focus - Lancaster First United Methodist Church

As our church prepares for a new year of ministry, some vital vision focuses have been emerging through prayer and discernment.  These were shared during our October 7 worship services.  I invite our congregation to continue to pray for these six areas of focus and respond with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

Our 2013 Vision – Empower & equip our congregation to intentionally invite people to our church events and make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world.

6 Areas of Focus:

·        Provide 40 small group opportunities during Lent for our Unbinding Your Soul emphasis and encourage the congregation to invite unchurched friends to participate in these groups.

·        Host a church-wide celebration event following our Unbinding Soul Lenten focus to help people from our UYS small groups meet more people in our church family.

·        Have each committee/program area offer at least one event that is specifically designed to meet the needs of people who are outside our church community.

·        Develop & implement an excellent hospitality ministry that intentionally welcomes all people who attend worship as well as other church events.

·        Create prayer walking teams who pray in our church and community on a regular basis.

·        Participate in a shared ministry model with Lancaster & surrounding area United Methodist Churches.

The Smiths' Look for a Church - Radical Hospitality Training Event

Our hidden camera secretly went to a church in the greater Columbus area to check out how well they offer hospitality to help us know what to do and what not to do. One of the members of this church looks a lot like me. :) 

If you would like to help families like the Smiths' feel welcomed at our church, please join us for a hospitality training event at our church, 163 E. Wheeling Street, Lancaster, OH on Sunday, September 9, 9 A.M. in room #22 (2nd floor.)  The training will provide practical ways for our church to offer radical hospitality to our guests.  Sign up for our training event by Sunday, September 2.

My Top Church Celebrity Names

Over the years, I have been priviledged to be the pastor of several well known celebrities.  OK, at least by name association.  On the lighter side of pastoral ministry, here are some of the celebrity names who were members of my church along with their "real" occupations.  I'll add others as they come to mind.

Pete Rose - A very successful farmer but I never saw him wear a Reds hat.
Jim Carter - I believe he was an educator and I don't think he was from Georgia.
Cindy Crawford - I golfed with her and officiated her daughter's wedding!
Charles Brown - He was a great organist but I hear that Schroeder was even better.
Charlie Brown - He loved our contemporary service unless Lucy was in attendance.
Rick Smith - He doesn't give lessons to any pro golfers but he sure is a great cook!