I enjoy trees. They are marvelous. There is nothing more beautiful in the fall than a tree with its multi-colored leaves. There are plenty of trees in my neighborhood. I have especially enjoyed this one huge, stately maple tree. I marvel how well it looks. Recently, however, the tree lost a huge branch. How could that be? I thought. It looked so healthy. But the branch laying on the ground told another story; a story of an aging tree with some weaknesses.

As I think of that tree I am reminded of Grace Church. This year we celebrate our 170th birthday. There is so much about us that appears healthy. The building looks stately on the corner of 4th and Walnut. When people drive by they see a full parking lot of people coming and going. It looks active, healthy.

But a closer inspection reveals something different. Some of our branches, while appearing healthy, may be ready to fall off. Let me illustrate.

Physically. Our building continues to require a good deal of maintenance. The 4th Street entrances need a freshening. The sanctuary also needs some TLC. They wallpaper is being held on literally with tape in some places. And some fresh paint is needed. Permanent stains are beginning to show on the fellowship carpet. Some classrooms need new chairs.

Organizationally. It is getting harder to find people to serve or lead teams. Several of our leaders have served faithfully for many years. How long before they say, “:I’m too old to do this. Please find someone else.” Who is that someone else?

Worship Attendance. On any given Sunday there are only 1 in 4 member (25%) attending worship. How long before that becomes 1 in 5; 1 in 6?
Financially. Our expenditures have remained virtually flat for the past 5 years. With rising utility and maintenance costs how can it remain so? One Sunday in August our offering was less than $2,000.

We keep asking the same people to do more and more in all aspects of the aforementioned. That can’t continue indefinitely. More of our membership needs to say “yes” to Grace Church; to its life and mission. The time is now. Can we count on you? God has placed you, us here for a purpose. Let’s continue to fulfill that purpose not that we can simply survive, but because God’s work needs to be done. If not us, who?

Living in Hope,
Rev. Craig

Grace UMC
422 Walnut Street
Coshocton, OH 43812

They will be “Live in Concert” at 7:00 p.m. at the Newcomerstown Christ United Methodist Church. A “Love Offering” will be collected.

Sunday Worship and Concert will be led by Phil and Pam Morgan on Sunday, September 26th at 11:00 a.m. All are invited to lunch following the service.

The husband and wife team from Kansas City, MO began singing gospel music full-time in 1996, but their ministry came to an abrupt halt Sunday afternoon, June 4, 2000, when the couple’s van crashed into a bridge. Pam was thrown onto the roadside, suffering numerous injuries including a broken neck that left her completely paralyzed from the chest down. Top surgeons said she would never feel or move most of her body again. The couple immediately began a prayer chain from the PhilandPamMorgan.com website that soon circled the globe. Much to the doctor’s amazement, feeling and movement began to gradually return to Pam’s lifeless limbs.

Over the period of a year she progressed from being wheelchair bound to walking unassisted. The specialist still have no explanation for Pam’s miraculous recovery, but the Morgans attribute her healing to the power of God. Exactly one year after the accident, Phil and Pam walked into a Nashville studio to record a project entitled Living Proof. Now their ministry takes another step forward with their new Gotta Keep Walkin’ CD. Phil, a talented songwriter, contributed most of the songs on this project as well as many on their previous recordings.

“When tragedy struck our family, God was the only One who got us through,” Pam said. “My prayer is that through our story others will be motivated to walk with God everyday, no matter what life brings.”

The Morgans message of hope and encouragement has touched lives around the world through recent media attention. Their story has been told on Oprah, Montel, TBN, Discovery Health’s “Only A Miracle” and The 700 Club, as well as in many national newspapers and magazines including Woman’s World. Their music can be heard on Christian radio across the United States, Australia and Europe. Phil and Pam’s live concerts are an unforgettable blend of music, humor and heart-to-heart honesty, inspiring audiences to keep walking with God.

Why is it important to attend church? We all have our answers, but most of them sound, well, quite self-serving. God has a better answer. No, God has the best answer and it’s told in a parable. On September 5th the message will be “Where Does God Want Us to Be?”

We have all heard it. “They are nothing but hypocrites!” That’s the reason some people give for not darkening the door of a church. It raises an interesting question: “Are we?” Our message will be “The Light of Jesus” on September 12th.

Last week we were hypocrites. This week we are always asking for money. That’s the comment pastors hear when inquiring about someone’s absence. Just one more reason people aren’t interested in the church—it costs! On September 19th the message will be “For Our Own Good”.

We bring this series to a close on September 26th with an inspirational witness by the Morgans (see the column to the right). Just one more reason why we do church.

As the favorite hymn reminds us “Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do.”

The choir had just sung a beautiful, stirring anthem. As the last note ended there was silence. Then the holy silence was broken by the sound of clapping. The mood created by the anthem was shattered. Sound familiar?

On several different occasions the Worship Team has dialogued about this “hot potato.” There were pro’s (showing our appreciation; i.e. applause) and con’s (disruptive of the flow of the service). What to do? With summer will come a series of guest singers and musicians and our desire will be even greater to show our appreciation with applause.

Let’s think through this concern together. I was not brought up with clapping in church. There was little or no emotion displayed during worship. But that was then and this is now. Everything from dining to entertainment to worship is now an experience. Some emotion needs to be present. Oftentimes, in worship, it is applause. The point being that this is a new day and time, which means that what was once forbidden is now encouraged.

I struggle with this as do some of you. I inquired of a colleague about applause during worship and he offered this insight. “It’s the congregations way of saying thank you; to show their appreciation, to recognize all the work that had been done in preparing the music.” But, I countered, they don’t clap after my sermon. He just smiled.

Let’s think theologically for a moment. What is worship? What is it that we are doing when we participate in worship? When I teach the section on worship to the confirmation class I make this point: worship is for God. In worship, God is the congregation and we all (worship leaders and congregation) are the worship leaders. We do it all for God; not for ourselves. So it is imperative that we fully participate during the service. We are not spectators or an audience, but performers for God. Notice that it is for God and not for one another that we do what we do in worship. This is what clearly separates worship from a concert or performance. It’s not about us. It’s about God!

How then can we share our appreciation? If we find a need to do so, write a note to the singer (s)/musician (s) expressing your appreciation. Or talk to the person personally.

When we don’t offer applause, it’s not that we are unappreciative; it’s because we understand the true meaning of worship. It’s all about God.

Just something to consider. Have a great summer. Come and worship.

In His Service,
Rev. Craig

Once again, the Advent-Christmas services were well-done. The sanctuary decorations were beautiful. The music pointed us in the right direction. Christmas Eve services (387 at 7 p.m.; 45 at 11 p.m.) were very worshipful.

Thank you all for what you did to make the season special. You were amazing. Now we turn our attention to the Lent-Easter season. How can we infuse this season with worshipful practices/experiences? Each of us needs to re-think the season and find ways to help the worshipers truly worship in this season of the church year. Everyone from ushers to the pastor and in-between can help create the proper worship environment.

Again, thank you so much for all you do. We work well as a team each sharing our gifts “for the common good”.

Living in Hope,
Pastor Craig