"Midweek and We are Talking Equality" Pastor Cindy's Devotion 11/14/2019

In May our church council adopted a proclamation called “Everybody eats.” 

Our sermon series this month focuses on equality and that’s an equality statement: everybody eats.  We believe that everyone needs good, nutritious food to grow and thrive, and as followers of Jesus Christ, we are going to do everything we can to ensure that, as far as we are able, people have food. 

Everybody…

When it comes to equality, are there other things we believe everybody should have?  Should everybody

• Breathe fresh air?
• Have access to a good education?
• Be able to live lives free from violence? 

Last spring I was in a museum in Chicago, and I ran across a statement from the CEO of a major corporation who said that access to clean water is not a basic human right.  I disagree.  Water flows from mountain tops through aquifers that God created.  Everybody should have access to clean water. 

As I think of all these things, I think of my grandchildren.  Do I want them to have nutritious food?  Fresh air? A good education?  A life free from violence?  Clean water?  Of course.  And if I want this for my grandchildren, then I have to want it for your grandchildren too, and for everyone’s grandchildren. 

How we get there, that’s another story. 

How do we, as the body of Christ, ensure that everybody has the basic things they need? This month we are struggling with that question.  It is a big, overwhelming question.

But it is not bigger than God. I believe that this was God’s intention from the beginning of time when the divine hand of God gave earth little shove and the world began spinning. In the enormous generosity of God, everyone was to have what they needed to live.  

The entire “Everybody eats” statement appears below. 

May your basic needs be met this day, and may we do all we can to meet the basic needs of others. 

Blessings,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265

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.  And now we are livestreaming our 8:30 service!  Watch us online!

Everybody Eats! Proclamation

As Jesus Christ carried out his ministry, he cared for people, body, mind, and soul.  Again and again, he insisted that hungry people have the food they needed.  Food played a central role in his ministry. 

Jesus Christ ate with tax collectors.

Fed 5,000 and 4,000 on a hillside. 

Said that when we fed the least among us, we fed him. 

He raised a child from the dead and told her family to give her something to eat.

Told parables of banquets.

Taught us to pray for daily bread.

On the last night of his life, he shared a meal with his disciples and asked us to remember him always at a table together sharing bread and wine. 

His disciples recognized the Risen Christ in the breaking of bread.

The Risen Christ prepared a breakfast of grilled fish on the beach for his disciples.

And Jesus Christ expected his disciples to feed others. 

Because food was so important to Jesus Christ, West Des Moines United Methodist Church as a community of his followers, commit ourselves to ministries of feeding, addressing hunger in all the ways that we might, locally, nationally and internationally. 

To carry out our commitment to alleviating hunger, we will:

·         Recognize access to quality food as a basic human right.

·         Continue to support our direct hunger efforts, through our Little Pantry, Our Summer Feeding program and our partnership with Hillside Elementary. 

·         Partner with and support other groups who address hunger, such as Bidwell Riverside, West Des Moines Human Services, the Des Moines Hunger Hike, the Des Moines Area Religious Council, Meals from the Heartland and area businesses.     

·         And we will raise awareness about hunger by learning more about hunger and nutrition, and encouraging other groups and individuals to address hunger needs in their neighborhoods and communities.

·         We will do all that we can so that West Des Moines United Methodist Church is known as a church dedicated to the premise that everybody eats. 

Adopted by the church council of West Des Moines United Methodist Church on ____May 20, 2019___

This week at WDMUMC!

Children’s Choirs and Christ Chimers!  Our children will sing and play the chimes at our 8:30 service!  Come and enjoy it!

Bar+Church!  This Sunday Bar+Church will meet at 1 pm at Twisted Vine Brewery.  Come and join in this new “twist” on church.  Pastor Trevor will meet you there. 

Calling all Actors!  Like to ham it up?  On December 7th, we will be joining with Aldersgate United Methodist Church in family advent fun and we need actors of all ages!  These are easy parts re-telling the Christmas story.  This is a wonderful way to teach our children the meaning of Christmas.  Will you help tell the story?  Contact Morganne, our Christian Education director. 

The Human Sexuality Conflict in the United Methodist Denomination Yesterday Bishop Laurie Haller, who leads the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, issued a statement in response to the prohibitions regarding same-sex marriages and the ordination of LGBTQ persons.  Follow this link to learn more.  https://www.iaumc.org/newsdetail/just-resolution-achieved-church-trial-avoided-13018699