Month: March 2013

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Call-in Day to Support SNAP Funding

Received from the Kansas East Conference:

Hunger advocates and leaders in Kansas,

TAKE ACTION: Join our call-in day to Sen. Roberts on Wednesday, March 13, expressing our opposition to a bill he recently introduced that cuts SNAP (food stamps).

Join Bishop Jones in expressing support for maintaining SNAP benefits for those in need and against S. 458.

On Wed., March 13, call 1-800-826-3688, and ask for “Senator Roberts’ office.” You’ll probably either leave a voicemail or talk with an administrative assistant who will take your name, location and message. (Don’t worry, just by reading this email you’ll likely know more about the issue than the person you speak with.)

WHAT TO SAY:
1)    First, introduce and credential yourself (“I’m Zach Schmidt from ___ church/organization, in ___, Kansas”)
2)    Then, deliver the following message, or some variation thereof: “I’m disappointed to see Sen. Roberts has introduced S.458, the Improve Nutrition Program Integrity and Deficit Reduction Act, which would cut more than $36 billion from SNAP. I ask him to protect those who are poor and hungry in Kansas and beyond, and not to move forward with this bill.”

Talking Points

  • Express disappointment that the senator has decided to support cuts to SNAP at a time of increased need, and ask him to reconsider his support for S.458.
  • SNAP spending and participation has increased because the program works exactly how it’s supposed to and reaches exactly whom it’s supposed to. Eighty-five percent of SNAP households have incomes below the poverty line ($22,050 for a family of four). Participation is expected to decline as the economy recovers.
  • The proposed cuts will make it more difficult for those in need to apply for and receive critical benefits.

Our goal is 40 phone calls. Please let Zach Schmidt, Bread for the World Staff at zschmidt@bread.org, know if you will make a phone call on Mar. 13. Encourage two to three others to call as well. That would easily surpass the goal. You can also forward this email and the attached flyer to those in your networks, share on Facebook, etc. And let me know if you have any questions or additional ideas. More info below and attached.

Let’s not miss this critical opportunity to speak out together, against injustice and for the well-being of our poor and hungry neighbors. Thanks for your partnership in this work.

Zach Schmidt, Bread for the World staff

You can read Feeding America’s response here, and see the attached background document and SNAP fact sheet for more information.

We’re still mired in a recession and this is not the time to be cutting SNAP. Many people come to the church, Genesis, the Salvation Army, etc. for assistance because SNAP is already insufficient. Cutting SNAP further will only make things worse and put a greater strain on already overburdened non-profits.

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Easter Brunch — March 31, 2013

There will be an Easter Brunch from 9:15 to 10:30 am on Easter morning, Sunday, March 31, 2013. The Vision Team is making arrangements to provide Biscuits and Gravy, juice and coffee. You’re welcome, but certainly not required, to bring sweet breads, casseroles, fruit or anything else you want to round out the feast.The entire congregation (and any guests who might want to come along) is invited to join in the fellowship. Donations will be accepted for Imagine no Malaria.

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Daylight Savings Time Begins Tomorrow

Old alarm clockDaylight Savings Time Begins this Sunday (March 10, 2013). Don’t forget to move your clocks forward (spring forward/fall back) one hour. I always dread the drag this puts on church attendance and the way almost everyone (and I’m including myself in the almost everyone) drags a little this Sunday. To try and make up for it, we’ll be singing the time change song.

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Easter Book Study

Our next book study is being planned for the Easter Season (Easter Day and the 49 days following.) The book is Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life by James Martin. We’re doing this book study during Easter because joy is a key component in the Christian life and there should be no time in the Christian year more joyous than the Great Fifty Days of Easter.

Unlike previous studies, we’re passing around the sign-up sheet (both literally and figuratively) before we set the time. The plan is to poll those who are interested to find the time that works the best for the greatest number of people. If you’re interested, please sign up during worship or drop me a line at john@revcollins.com.

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The Creeds Explained — Part 10

This post continues a running series in which I’m attempting to explicate The Apostles’ Creed and The Nicene Creed. Today, I”m finishing my comments on the section about Jesus Christ.

First, The Apostles’ Creed:

 “he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

And from The Nicene Creed:

“he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”

The words “he ascended into heaven” reference the Biblical witness to the resurrected Christ’s ascension after spending 40 days in which the disciples and many others were able to witness that he was indeed risen from the grave. The assertion that he is seated at the right hand of the Father is a way of saying he is with the Father in the fullness of God’s glory. The Nicene Creed goes beyond the Apostle’s in noting that when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead he will return in glory. That is, though he still bears the scars of the crucifixion (indeed these wounds of love are part of his glory) he will come in the full majesty of his divine nature. There will be no birth in a humble manger the second time around.

In addition to stating the nature of Jesus’ return, the Nicene Creed adds that “his kingdom will have no end.” When Jesus comes again, the full reign of God in all it’s fullness will be unleashed. The realms of heaven and earth will become one and God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Both creeds affirm that he will judge the living and the dead.* This may sound like a threat, but it need not be. In Jesus Christ we find the forgiveness of all our sins and with Christ interceding for us we need not fear judgment. I think the best way to interpret the phrase is as a promise. The world is rife with injustice (and always has been). The mighty are often let go with nothing but a slap on the wrist (if that) and few take time to plead the case of “the least of these.” This clause promises that a time will come when all will be set right and justice will be done. In this way it is part and parcel of of the coming kingdom of God.

*I know that some of you would prefer to return to the traditional language of “the quick and the dead,” but to many people have no idea that in this context “quick” means alive and I don’t think you want to take the time for me to explain it every Sunday.

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Voice of the Day: Karl Barth

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“Repent not because you must, but because you may.”

— Karl Barth, cited by L. Gregory Jones, United Methodist Full Connection Lectures, 2009.

This is a key point. All too often we think of repentance as something we must do, a hurdle that must be cleared on our way to salvation. And, I suppose, it is something that must be done. But the nature of our fallen existence, the misery to which we subject ourselves means that it is something more, it is something we get to do. It is a privilege God has extended to us.

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How Long Do I Have to Feel Guilty?

My sermon this coming Sunday will attempt to answer a question posed to me by a parishioner. I’m paraphrasing the question, but it was something like “How long do I have to feel guilty when I’ve done something wrong?” I’ll be using Luke 15.11-32, Psalm 32, and probably 2 Corinthians 5.16-21 as my texts.

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Prayers Requested for Rob Scott

Heather’s three year old daughter, Jocelynn, is in the office this morning because her grandfather, Rob Scott, had a heart attack and her father had to rush to the hospital. Would ask you to keep Rob in your prayers.

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We're Moving to Abilene

This morning at the 8:10 and 10:50 worship services, Jenny and I announced that, at the end of June 2013, we will be moving to Abilene, Kansas to serve as pastors of the First United Methodist Church there. Last December, when we completed our annual appointive recommendation (the “should we stay or should we go form”) we checked the option that this appointment (to Coffeyville First) “appears to be a match that effectively utilizes [our] gifts and graces.” We believed that then and we believe it now.

However, we had also discerned that our time here was coming toward an end and so when it came to the part of the form called the “Appointive Continuum” we placed our mark closer to the “move” than to the “remain” end of the spectrum.* We did this in the hope that a new pastor might be better able to assist you in moving forward and continuing the excellent work you have been doing as a church. Of our time here as your pastors, one of the moments that touched us most deeply was when the PPR Committee wrote on our evaluations that they believed we had always acted in the best interests of the church. We believe we are doing so now and trust that God has great things in store for you.

We will continue to be your pastors through the end of June and we will do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition and the success of your new pastor. After that time we will no longer be your pastors, but we hope to remain your friends. We have enjoyed our eight years here with you and we cherish the friendships we have made. Thank you.

*If you find this confusing, it might help you to look at Clergy Appointive Recommendation.

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Voice of the Day: Martin Luther King, Jr.

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“The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers and sisters.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hat Tip: Sojourners