New Year... New You!

Dear Partners in Ministry,

NEW YEAR...NEW YOU! My dear close friends at Amazon.com (they only have a couple hundred million "dear close friends") sent me a personal email this month that started out, "Peter D. Weaver: A New Year…A New You!" What followed were all kinds of suggestions about how I could improve in this new year. How did they know I needed so much improvement? Actually I didn't know I needed so much improvement until I saw all their offerings of diet books, exercise videos, and self-improvement guides. Wasn't that thoughtful of them!

To be sure there are lots of areas I need to improve. Maybe you have some, too. Maybe your church has some, too. Certainly our world has some. The one thing Amazon.com somehow missed listing: the Bible (still the #1 selling book) promises that God is "making all things new". It affirms that "if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation". Every new year, new week, new day is an opportunity to go deeper "in Christ" and experience the newness of life, joy, peace, hope, purpose, faith, and love that can transform your life, your church, and our world. What are the ways you are looking to be new or have a renewed church or participate in a transformed world? What are the fresh ways you are opening yourself each new day to our God who can make all things new?...even me...even you.

LIGHTEN UP Two Sundays ago, right after the Epiphany celebration of the Magi following the star-light to find Christ, we were worshipping in the Family United Methodist Church in Saugus, Mass. It is a lively, growing new congregation primarily made up of persons from Brazil. The church was abuzz with families and children and youth and young adults as well as older folks. Everyone joined in to make great music…with enthusiasm for God's many blessings. People came forward bringing their offerings with overflowing joy. My wife and I talked about the contagious Spirit there and how some of our churches need to "lighten up" just as those Magi did in stepping out, risking, going in a new direction, following the light. Indeed when the children's choir got up to sing a couple of songs, including "Amazing Grace", a little boy in the front row started to move to the beat and tap his feet. Every time his little athletic shoes would tap the floor, they would light up! Maybe the choirs in all our churches (or preachers...or Bishop) should buy such shoes..."how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good tidings." (Is 52:7) Let's lighten up with the joy and enthusiasm of the good tidings of God's Amazing Grace.

The Sanctuary of their older building has also just been "lightened up" by creative design - beautiful color selections and some hard work by members of the congregation. It is one of the best examples I have seen of remodeling an older sanctuary into a highly attractive, creatively flexible, worshipful space for the twenty-first century, including outstanding technical equipment and without big, big bucks. And speaking of "lightening up", the lighting in the whole sanctuary and particularly around the altar area, which has been redone with contemporary stone, is very effective. If you are looking for ways to "lighten up" an old sanctuary, call the pastors, Juarez or Clauri Goncalves (781-233-0825) to arrange a visit.

The Spirit of this congregation has been "lightened up" by spiritual growth, unity, and a new commitment to evangelism through a twenty-one day fast which started January 2nd. In this case, they have followed the Daniel 10 fast which calls for fasting from foods like meat, milk, and eggs and confining one's diet to fruits, vegetables and cereals. Some members have also been "fasting" from watching television and using the internet. Every Monday and Friday, everyone calls in at the same time to a "conference call" prayer time when they pray for each other, their church, community, and world. Now get this part...this time of fasting was originally the idea of the youth group and then the rest of the congregation decided to join in also. It has been a transformational experience for the whole congregation. We should not be surprised. Wesley practiced and recommended fasting. As clergy we vow to fast by precept and example, and I have personally seen the blessing of it in the congregations I served as pastor. You and your congregation may want to try some form of fasting during Lent this year.

It will come as no surprise to you that this congregation is now letting their light shine by planting another new congregation in Everett, Mass. which already includes Brazilians, Haitians, Hispanics, and Anglos...and the Spirit of Christ, who is the Light of the World. Lighten Up!

KIDS’ BIRTHDAY KORNER Looking for ways to reach out to children in your community? Bethany UMC in East Rochester, NH realized that gifts are often collected for kids at Christmas time but no other time of the year, so they have started the "Kids’ Birthday Korner" which about twice a month invites kids (ages 1-12) from the community, particularly low income areas, to come to the church for a birthday party. Each kid gets to pick one present from a room full of mixed gifts of toys, games, stuffed animals, dolls, etc. There are also cupcakes and photos and lots of fun, plus the recognition that God created them, loves them, "and so do we". The pastor, Jean Main, says the church does a lot around Christmas, but birthdays are forgotten, and this new outreach is a way of relating to kids the rest of the year. Jean would be happy to tell you more about this ministry (603-332-3618).

IT IS A NEW YEAR, AND GOD CONTINUES TO DO NEW AND AMAZING THINGS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN MINISTRY. AS ALWAYS, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO SERVE CHRIST WITH YOU.

Grace and Peace,
Pete