Alleluia!

Dear Partners in Ministry,

ALLELUIA! Last weekend I had one Alleluia after another. I was traveling for three days in the Northern Maine District.  Alleluia, there was still snow on the ground in many places. I really do love snow! And the purples and yellows of crocuses were pushing their way up in some places. Isn't God's creation and re-creation amazing...and surprising?
 
Then at the Northern Maine District Day, I heard it again: Alleluia, Alleluia!  One by one, dozens and dozens of laity and clergy stood up to share stories of amazing and surprising things happening in their churches, by the grace of God:  people healed, restarted Sunday Schools, outreach to prisoners, free community meals, new worship styles, mission teams on the go, concern for economic justice, adults baptized into the faith, and on and on.  After each testimony, the 100 or so gathered (some got up at 2 AM to travel to be there) would exclaim “Alleluia!”
 
We have been receiving your "Vital Congregation Goals" from all over the Conference. (Thanks for sending these in. If you haven't yet done so, we look forward to getting yours.)  These goals are in the form of numbers, but they represent real people who can share in the real Alleluia stories of lives changed and communities transformed...like those we heard in abundance last Saturday and then again in the Alton and Milo congregations Sunday morning.  In fact, there is far more "vitality" going on in our congregations than we will ever capture in numbers. The numbers are one measure, but we also need to tell the stories...and have the goal of sharing the Alleluias of life in Christ with more and more people.  Why not share a few Alleluias in your worship this Sunday.

SPRING BREAK IN MISSION Recently, I was blessed to help commission a number of students from our United Methodist-related Green Mountain College who, along with President Paul Fonteyn and members of several of our United Methodist congregations around Poultney, VT., were heading to our Red Bird Mission in Kentucky for Spring Break to work on houses and build relationships with those facing economic hardships.  As one of the students, Alexandra Hilliard, said, "Each of us strongly anticipates a life-changing experience!"  In addition, they gave me a challenge to learn to play a dulcimer that was handcrafted at Red Bird Mission in order to help sing the great songs of faith that come out of Appalachia and accompany the Red Bird Choir that will be singing at General Conference!  Pray for me - and my fingers...I'm working on it.
 
Volunteers in Mission work teams are needed all over.  They are a life-changing experience for youth, young or older adults...anyone.  Teams are particularly needed for the Maine U.M. Economic Ministry's Summer Home Repair Program (call Crystal Cook at 207-678-2611) and to continue helping in Vermont and Western Mass following last year’s floods and tornados.  If your church doesn't have a team, you may want to connect with a team from another church. For more information, call our conference Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, David Stackpole at 603-465-7885.

THE WITNESS OF WINDOWS While I was at the Poultney UM Church, I noticed, as I do in many churches, their stained glass windows, each with the name of the donor at the bottom.  Those names so often go unnoticed or forgotten.  But that church had a fascinating four page brochure that tells the story of each of these faithful "saints" who had served Christ in notable ways in generations past in that church.  Elijah, who had been a farmer and metal "molder"; Harriet, mother and jeweler; Judson, who manned the cannons protecting Washington during the Civil War and become U.S. Consul to Africa; Frank, photographer and musician in the Trojan Orchestra;  Nettie and Charles, teachers and President at Troy Conference Academy (now GM College); Ralph, poet, pastor, author, Bishop; Frederick and Mary, father, mother, general store owners.  The short, but inspiring biographies celebrated this great variety of followers of Jesus and made me think about my life and witness as well.  Do some research...and tell the stories.

   "I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true,
   Who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.
   And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green;
   They were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too.”                          
                        (Hymn 712, UMH)

MORE GREEN THUMBS UP  After mentioning the wonderful work of community gardens in an earlier Partners in Ministry, I have heard of many other churches that have joined this movement.  As I mentioned a couple of years ago, retired Bishop Dale White has inspired the starting of many of these, not just because he loves the soil, but because of our Christian commitment to care for the earth and share all the bounty God gives us.  If you are interested in following up with other churches that are doing community gardening, here are some more (though not an exhaustive list): St. Paul's, Newport, RI; Calvary, Middletown, RI; Eliot, ME; First Bangor, ME; First, Framingham, MA; Montpelier, VT. Keep planting the seeds of community, justice, and caring for the earth and our neighbors...the harvest will be Gospel!

WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER While sharing in a wonderful Sunday at First UMC in Hudson, MA, I saw this poster:
                         
"IF WE HAVE NO PEACE, IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER"
                                                                                                Mother Teresa

As we belong to each other, let us continue the Lenten Journey with Jesus who has called us to love each other completely.  I am grateful to be a Partner in Ministry with you.

Grace and Peace,
Pete