"Midweek and Embracing Humility" Pastor Trevor's Devotion 08/19/2020

 

Hello Church, 

Do you ever have an assumption proven wrong? I woke up a couple of days ago with what I assumed was a spider bite or something on my forearm. It was super itchy. So I scratched it. Most of you probably know that was a mistake. It spread very rapidly where I scratched. I’ve been fighting the urge to scratch this spider bite for a few days. I’ve done well. It’s remained super itchy but I haven’t scratched it! I asked someone else what the heck is up with the spider bite and I showed them arm. They replied, "Yeah, that’s poison ivy." I couldn’t believe it. Poison ivy has never caused me to rash out before. I assumed two things. First, it was just a spider bite. Second, I wasn’t affected by poison ivy. Well damn, I was wrong on both accounts! Once I had some help identifying what was wrong, I could address the issue correctly. Thank God for other people. 

Our confirmation students had our final retreat tonight. We met in the parking lot and talked about all of the things we’ve learned and the questions we still have. Some students assumed that by the end of confirmation they wouldn’t have any more questions. Some students mentioned that they assumed some of the adults in the church had all of this figured out. Once they learned that all of us adults are still learning and wrestling with questions and struggling with doubt, they felt much better about their own spaces and faith journeys. They felt like they could join a church that didn’t have all the answers and that relied on one another for growth. They were excited about that. 

This week, I simply want to encourage you to embrace humility. You don’t know have to know everything. Wrestling is good. Having each other in our lives is a blessing. Thank God for other people. Thank God for you - the church.

Pastor Trevor
Pastor Trevor Vaughn
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50265

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Upcoming:

We worship online every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. via Facebook and YouTube. Our services go live at 9:25 a.m. to give you extra time to get signed in. Join us! This week our ministry partners, including some of our youth, from Simpson Youth Academy will be leading worship.

Bar+Church continues every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Twisted Vine.

 

"Midweek and Walking On High Places" Pastor Trevor's Devotion 08/13/2020

 

Hello Church!

Since we are in a worship series about the mountains, let’s talk about high places for a moment. High places are wonderful. When on high places, you see the world from a new perspective. It’s stunningly beautiful. But there’s a journey to get to that high place.

Every time I’m out in Oregon, I take a trip to Multnomah Falls. It’s a beautiful waterfall coming off of Larch Mountain that is about 600 ft high. Looking up at it from the bottom is one thing, but looking down from the top is a whole new experience. The path up is a workout and my prayer life increases drastically as I struggle to get to the top. I have to convince myself a few dozen times not to turn around because I’m so worn out and exhausted. 

I turn into one of my children in the car asking, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” And God seems to tune me out. After enough whining maybe he says what we say to our children in the back seat, “Would you just trust me, we’ll be there soon!” But soon is not soon enough. And I’m beaten up, barely able to breathe, and wondering if the end will even justify the means. Then I reach the top. I put my feet in the ice-cold water and I look down over the terrifyingly gorgeous waterfall and I look out of the Columbia River. And I remember why I make this trek every time. And I remember why I keep walking when I feel like quitting. 

See, God ables us to walk in high places by giving us strength and being with us on the journey. The journey almost always involves some kind of adversity. Without hope, the journey doesn’t seem worth taking. By the way, the word “hope” in scripture isn’t the same as the wishy-washy maybe-but-unsure optimism that we see it used today. Hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” and “Trust” are interchangeable. In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet says, “The sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes me able to walk on high places.”

May you trust in God so you can walk on high places this week. Don’t give up.

Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Trevor
Pastor Trevor Vaughn
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-279-0826

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Join in worship online at 9:30 each Sunday morning!

This week at WDMUMC

Parking Lot Worship:  We will worship in the church parking lot at 6:45 pm. Bring a chair,  wear a mask, plan to social distance, and praise God. 

New Book Study:  Pastor Cindy is leading a book study on Walter Brueggemann’s book, Virus as a Summons to Faith.  The group will meet in the parking lot at 4:30 on Wednesdays.  Bring your bible.  Reply to this email if you would like to attend. If you don’t have the book for the first meeting, Pastor Cindy will help get you started.  

Begin the Week with Prayer: Monday morning around 8 am the pastors will live stream with a prayer.  Login and join in or check out the post later in the day. 

Ring the Bell and Remember: Each Monday at 10:30 we ring the bell in remembrance of those in Iowa who have died of COVID in the previous week. 

 

"Midweek and We Are Standing at the Foot of a Mountain" Pastor Cindy's Devotion 08/04/2020

Hello friends,

In our August sermon series, we are headed to the mountains.  Wouldn’t we all like to be driving through the mountains about now! 

We never have enough words to describe God or life for that matter so we use metaphors.  A mountain is a metaphor for the challenges we face in our lives. 

Right now, I know people facing these mountains.  (You may see yourself here.)

• Baby on the way soon!  Mountain:  rearranging my life and becoming a parent!
• A loved one in hospice care.  Mountain: waiting and watching. Loss and grief.  Heartache.  
• School starting soon for students, teachers, and families.  Mountain:  in normal times, getting school supplies, first-day nervousness, new classrooms, and meeting new teachers.  In COVID times, elevate this mountain another ten thousand feet.
• Aging.  Simple inevitable aging.  Seeing wrinkles in the mirror.  Feeling aching in the knees.  Mountain:  rethinking who we are in this time of life. 
• Living in a pandemic.  Mountain:  changing the patterns of our life.  The grief of missing the way things used to be.  Missing friends. Loneliness and anxiety.  Suffering and death of a loved one. 
• Facing marital strife. Mountain:  finding a way to love one another enough to do the right thing for everyone. 
• Retirement.  Mountain:  what do I do now? 
• Looking for a job.  Mountain:  maintaining a positive attitude while sending out resumes, interviewing, and starting over. 
• Infertility treatment.  Mountain:  waiting with uncertainty and facing disappointment. 
• Recovering from an addiction.  Mountain:  facing the pull of an addiction everyday.  Addressing the pain that lies beneath. 
• Caring for an aging parent.  Mountain:  getting the right care.  Allowing for the right level of independence. 
• A loved one with mental illness.  Mountain: accessing mental health care.  Being patient. Facing all the stigma. 

Sounds more like a mountain range than a single summit.   

The good news:  people climb mountains.  With power beyond their own, people make their way up and over mountains, even if those mountains seem insurmountable. 

If you are reading this online or if you have access to a computer, check out this video about Charlie Wittmack and Dr. Deming, two Des Moines residents who know a lot about mountains. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJBSC4ZF1bE

People climb mountains.  God shows them the way.  There is a path created by grace. 

Blessings,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman

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

Join in worship online at 9:30 each Sunday morning!

This week at WDMUMC

Chalk Church!  Alice Burress is meeting with children and their families in the parking lot at 6 pm on Wednesday, August 5th to create beautiful chalk art.  Wear a mask, plan to social distance, and praise God in chalk. 

New Book Study!  Pastor Cindy is leading a book study on Walter Brueggemann’s book, Virus as a Summons to Faith.  The group will meet in the parking lot at 4:30 on Wednesdays.  Bring your bible.  Reply to this email if you would like to attend. If you don’t have the book for the first meeting, Pastor Cindy will help get you started.  

Begin the Week with Prayer  Monday morning around 8 am the pastors will live stream with a prayer.  Login and join in or check out the post later in the day. 

Ring the Bell and Remember Each Monday at 10:30 we ring the bell in remembrance of those in Iowa who have died of COVID in the previous week.