"Midweek and It Takes Courage" Pastor Cindy's Devotion 09/24/2019

Good morning—

On Sunday I talked about the courage it takes to speak up.  In Mark 10:46-52, Bartimaeus was blind, sitting in the ditch on the side of the road.  He was an outcast, an embarrassment, but when Jesus walked by he spoke up.  He drew attention to himself. The crowd tried to shush him, but he would not be silenced.  He spoke up, and through his courage, the crowd witnessed a miracle.

Yesterday Greta Thunberg spoke to the United Nations.  She is a 16-year-old student from Sweden.  The entire world watched.  As she was invited to speak, she squirmed a bit, adjusted the microphone, sat up straight, looked at the crowd, and for 5 minutes, spoke her convictions.  (If you want to hear what she said go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJsdgTPJpU.)  Courage. 

The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples for the transformation of the world.  This too takes courage. 

There is something compelling about courage.  When I see a courageous act taken on behalf of others, it is hard to look away.  It inspires me. I think it inspires the world. 

For the last few years, I have been worried that we have worn out the word “love.”  We have made it small and inconsequential.  We love pizza, puppies, and when our team wins.  We say we “love” those things, but this is really preference and love is so much more than that.  So I have been collecting synonyms for love, words like mercy, forgiveness, compassion, justice, welcoming, acceptance.  These are things Jesus did as an expression of love.  I am adding “courage” to the list.   I think courage carried out on behalf others is a form of love.  Jesus on the cross, arms outstretched, offering his entire self, courage. 

The world does not look like God’s intention.  There is too much hunger, too many people living in poverty, too much violence, too much greed, too many people disregarded, and listening to Greta, too much destruction happening to our planet.  But there is courage and courage can transform the world.  

In what ways is God asking you to be courageous?  

God bless the courageous. 

Blessings,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman

West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-279-0826

Like us on Facebook or visit us at wdmumc.org.

We worship on Sunday mornings at 8:30 in a traditional way and at 11 in a casual way.  We would love to worship with you. 

Coming Up at WDMUMC

I GOOFED!  I printed the wrong date for the Habitat Panel Build in the bulletin last weekend!  The Habitat Panel Build is Saturday, October 5th!  There are shifts available from 7 am-4:45.  You can go to https://gdmhabitat.secure.force.com/volunteer/VolunteersJobListingFSC?jobId=a0G61000006R3IN&nMonthsToShow=4 to sign up.  Building a home is a great way to transform the world! 

Wednesday Programming beings this Week!

• Happy Hour Bible Study at 5 pm.
• Youth and Children’s Bells at 5 pm.
• Children’s Choirs at 5:30
• Midweek Refuel Begins this Week!  Supper’s on from 5:30-6:30 on Wednesday. 
• Praise Band at 6 pm.
• Midweek Connection, activities and education for children and families, begins at 6:30.
• Youth Group at 6:15.
• Yada Yada Tweens at 6:30
• The In-Between Parents Conversation 7:00
• Chancel Choir 7:30
• and you are invited to all of this!

NAMI Walk, Saturday morning.  The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is hosting a walk on Saturday, Sept 28 at Terra Lake Park in Johnston.  Go to https://namiiowa.org/ for details or just come to the park at 10!

Financial Peace University!  Sunday at 3 pm.  Want to control your money, rather than having it control you?  Financial Peace can help! 

Let your faithful courage transform the world today!

"Monday Midweek" Pastor Cindy's Devotion 09/16/2019

Good morning—

Midweek is early this week!  Last week as I was preparing for the sermon I ran across something that has me thinking and I want to share it with you.

It comes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.  Here are his words:

“One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying…so many of us tragically divided against ourselves. On the one hand, we proudly profess certain sublime and noble principles, but on the other hand, we sadly practice the very antithesis of these principles.  How often are our lives characterized by a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds!  We talk eloquently about our commitment to the principles of Christianity, and yet our lives are saturated with the practices of paganism.  We proclaim devotion to democracy, but we sadly practice the very opposite of the democratic creed.  We talk passionately about peace, and at the same time we assiduously prepare for war.  We make our fervent pleas for the high road of justice, and then we tread unflinchingly the low road of injustice.  This strange dichotomy, this agonizing gulf between the ought and the is, represents the tragic theme of man’s earthly pilgrimage.” 

• The gulf between doing and saying. 
• High blood pressure of creeds.  Anemia of deeds. 
• Talk of peace.  Prepare for war. 
• The gulf between the ought and the is. 

The apostle Paul also knew about the gap between who we want to be in our hearts and how we live our lives.  In Romans 7, the apostle Paul described the gap this way: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” 

I want the pace of my life to slow down, and yet I fill up my days.

I want there to more peace in the world, but I contribute to the little wars around me.

Proclaiming acceptance and judging others. 

I suppose this is all about being authentic.  About looking over that gulf between the “ought” and the “is” and committing ourselves to the “ought.”

What ought to be, not out of guilt or social pressure, just the ought that is God, goodness, and grace that makes life possible.  The “ought’ that changes our lives from tragedy to joy.  The ought that is God’s gift of redemption and freedom.

In this busy world, our personal little “gulfs” may not seem like a big deal, but every time we gather the courage and cross the gulf between who we are and who we might be, we inspire others to follow.

Just thinking about you and me and Dr. King and God today.

Every blessing to you,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman

West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-279-0826

Like us on Facebook or visit us at WDMUMC.org.

We worship at 8:30 and 11 on Sunday and you are invited!

This week at WDMUMC:

#Justread  Want a no pressure/no expectation way of reading the bible?  Every Tuesday from 4:30-5:30 a small group gathers in Pastor Cindy’s office to read the bible.  We just read and talk.  No homework.  We’re all rookies. You are invited.

Big Transparency Meeting!  Curious about the church and how it is doing?  Wednesday at 7 pm, Carol Litscher, Jenny Blackford, and Mike Powers are leading a transparency meeting to answer questions about the church.  This is all in preparation for next month’s stewardship campaign.    You are invited!

Habitat Panel Build on October 5!  It is time again to build the walls for a Habitat house.  If you would like to sign up go to https://gdmhabitat.secure.force.com/volunteer/VolunteersJobListingFSC?jobId=a0G61000006R3IN&nMonthsToShow=4

Financial Peace University begins Sunday, September 29, 3 pm.  Finding it hard to put the words “financial” and “peace” in the same sentence?  Or would you just like to get control of your finance so that you can spend your money on your priorities?  Rachel Olson and her husband Matt will lead the classes.  The cost is $99 but if you contact Rachel ahead of time, there is a discount and there are also scholarships available.

Grow in faith, disciples!  Have a great week. 

“Midweek and I Want You to See What is Happening at WDMUMC” Pastor Cindy’s Devotion 09/12/2019

That’s our focus this month.  Do you recognize the people in this picture?  That’s Morganne taking the selfie and from left to right you will find Hannah, our communications coordinator; Rachel, our director of administration; Pastor Cindy; Pastor Trevor; and Nancy, the director of our preschool.  We are laughing because there is something hilarious about sticking your face through a sign.

And in case you are wondering, the letters on the red t-shirt stand for “God is greater than my ups and downs.”   Two teens in our church and their mom created this.  Very fun!

Can we see all the people?  That question opens all sorts of challenges, doesn’t it?  

First, are we too busy to look around and actually see people?  Are we so task-driven, that people are simply an obstacle in the way? 
 

And when we do see people, do we see them as the people they are?  People who are someone’s son or daughter.  People with skills and talents and abilities.  People with their own story of how they came to this moment.  People who are the culmination of who they love and who love them.  People who have faced ups and downs.

God sees all the people. In some amazing way far beyond our capabilities, God sees and cares for all the people.  And as disciples, we are invited to do the same. 

So an assignment for you for this week.  See someone. Take a moment to really see them, ponder their story.  Offer encouragement and acceptance.  Look at them with the assurance that God sees them too. 
 

And this Sunday when you come to worship, stop by the sign and take your picture.  When we stop to see all the people, something very beautiful happens.  

One more note:  I wrote this early Wednesday morning and I was preparing to send it—and people began popping into my life.  It was really a very nice day of meeting unexpectedly with lots of people.  I had been praying that I might “see all the people” and God seemed quick to answer. 
 

Blessings to you all this day,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman

West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave
West Des Moines Iowa 50265
515-279-0826

Like us on Facebook or visit us at wdmumc.org

We worship at 8:30 and 11 on Sunday mornings and we would love to worship with you.  

What’s happening at wdmumc?

#SEEALLTHEPEOPLE, our sermon series continues this Sunday.  Ever feel lost in the crowd?  Pastor Trevor will share his thoughts.  Read Luke 5:1-11 to prepare!  

Bar+Church Begins this Sunday!  Pastor Trevor is launching this new ministry at Fox Brewing at 1 pm. Join in if this is what you have been looking for.  And keep this exciting new ministry in your prayers.  

BIG Transparency Meeting!  WDMUMC is preparing for the fall stewardship effort.  That’s the time when we are asked to make financial pledges to support the church.  Before we do that, we want everyone to know how the church is doing.  Are we growing as disciples?  Are our ministries making a difference?  Are we being faithful in supporting the church financially?  On Wednesday, Sept 18 at 7 pm. Carol Litscher, Mike Powers, Jenny Blackford, and church leaders will share lots of information about what is happening behind the scenes at the church.  You are invited!

Senior Disciples Luncheon September 17 at 11:30.  Good food and great company!  Call the church at 279-0826 if you would like to attend.  And bring a guest!

NAMI Walk!  The National Alliance on Mental Illness is hosting a walk on September 28. Go to https://namiiowa.org/ to join in!

Calling all Kids!  The Chimers Children’s Bell Choir and Children’s Choirs begin September 25!  Adults:  are there children in your life who love music?  Invite them!  Chimers rehearse at 5 and the choirs meet at 5:30.