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Two things this week. One is always and forever, I guess. The other is an important part of Family Camp. First, the always and forever thing. The front doorbell rang, and Trisha was soon knocking at my office door. “There's a young man here who says he needs to be cleansed and saved.” It's the sort of thing that happens dozens of times each year. Sometimes a person simply wants a place to be quiet and to pray. Our quiet, beautiful sanctuary is a great place for that. But sometimes it's someone who needs a person to pray with them, to sit with them, to give them a little advice or encouragement, perhaps to provide financial assistance, or simply to provide a listening ear. When I'm not here Trisha and Robbie are not always comfortable doing that, nor should they be. But when I'm here that opportunity falls to me. Interestingly, the young man that came in today was followed by his mother a few minutes later. The spur of the moment personal counseling now became family counseling, similarly impromptu. I don't need to tell you anything about what's going on in the life of that family. But I do want to tell you about something that struck me in the middle of the conversation. I was struck by how many times something like that must have happened here over 170 years. This Sunday, June 8, is Pentecost Sunday, marking the birthday of the church. This year that worldwide ecclesiastical celebration happens to fall on the second Sunday of June which is the Sunday on which a little group of folks first gathered in the post physician’s quarters of the recently decommissioned fort called Fort Worth, back in 1855. So, this year the birthday of the universal church and the birthday of our local congregation fall on the same day. The approach of that day got me wondering just how many people like that young man had knocked on the front door of this church seeking some sort of help or support, seeking prayer or guidance, or just needing someone to listen. What we often call the Door Ministry is, and I'm sure always has been, a crucial part of our effort to join hands together for faithful work spreading the Good News of God in Christ Jesus. Second, I want to tell you about Be the Neighbor, and about my friend Allison Lanza. Be The Neighbor is a unique ministry that Allison started a few years ago to provide guidance and organizational assistance for churches who want to do mission trips. It characterizes itself as “a justice-based service-learning trip ministry that equips people to live lives of love, service, and justice.” One of the cool things it does is that it trains young people wanting to explore the possibility of becoming ministers. This summer alone they have 24 interns who have been trained and are working to help congregations learn how to reach out through mission trips. Be The Neighbor will be the recipient of our offerings during Family Camp next week. As for Allison who will lead Family Camp Bible study, she's just special. You may remember her. She preached here for me a year or two ago. She grew up here in Fort Worth. But most important, she's one of those crazy people who went to TCU undergrad then got her Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt. And we all know those people are very special – even brilliant, some say! I’ll see you on Sunday. Remember to share your bread with the needy and to find a way to share God’s love even if only with a smile. To prepare for worship Sunday read Acts 2.1-21. Peace, Tom
First, about parking tickets. Several folks have received tickets in the mail for parking on the lot for Sunday worship. This absolutely should not happen. Trisha has talked to the man responsible for the parking lot owner’s enforcement apparatus who told her there was a glitch in the system which has now been worked out. Also, I have talked with Mr. Brandon Beck, the lot owner, who shares our concerns and wants to make sure the problem is stopped. Let me explain the matter as briefly as possible. 1. We do not own the lot. We used to own that property but sold it in 1984. 2. When we sold it, we kept an easement allowing the church certain parking rights. 3. The church may park in as many as 50 spaces on the lot on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesday nights from 5:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. 4. The church also may use the 4 spaces in the southwest corner of the lot (near the Taylor Street door) all day any day. These are primarily for staff and regular volunteers. 5. If you park in one of our four spots on a Saturday or a week day on Church business, check with Trisha or me before you pay, and we can make it so you don’t have to pay. 6. The easement was originally for 20 years but was later re-negotiated and is now permanent. 7. Enforcement is done by cameras. Any car seen entering the lot and then leaving more than 10 minutes later without paying is ticketed. 8. The cameras are supposed to be turned off on Sundays and on Wednesday nights. 9. Enforcement regarding those 4 spots we’re allowed to use 24/7 is a different matter. 10. Bottom line: If you receive a ticket for parking in the lot for a church event on Sunday or on Wednesday night, let Trisha know (817.336.7185). The ticket will be voided. 11. If you see a worship visitor paying to park on Sunday, tell them they do not need to pay. 12. Also, remember the two spaces on Taylor that are marked “Church Only” by the city. Also, remember that all street and Sundance Square parking is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays. I’ll see you Sunday. Remember to share your bread with the needy and to find a way to share God’s love even if only with a smile. To prepare for worship on Sunday read Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22. Peace, Tom But Tom Wants Another Turn…. I need to share something else completely different. The folks at our Week of Compassion office in Indianapolis sent a touching and important article about a usually hidden cost of war, that is the cost paid by people with disabilities and the families who love them. The article is about Ukraine under the Russian invasion. But the same applies in Israel-Palestine, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, Armenia, Niger, or, most recently, Lebanon. Here are a few snippets from the article: When the war reached their front yard in 2022, Liudmila and her son had to flee their home in Bakmut. Liudmila recalled her beloved small town … [as]“the best city on earth.” In May 2023, President Zelenskyy said, “Bakmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing left in this place.” Liudmila’s adult son, Dmytro (38), is one of 261,000 people with intellectual disabilities living in Ukraine. National health organizations estimate some 2.7million people there live with at least one, and often multiple, disabilities. [It is these people, the] sick, elderly, and disabled … who are disproportionately affected by war and natural disaster. “People with disabilities bear the brunt, the cost of war – they are the human toll,” [says] Rev. Matt Hackworth, Director of Development & Communications for L’Arche USA…. When war arrived in Ukraine, and families [had] to flee, those who had a family member with disabilities were often forced to abandon them to institutions in hopes they would be sheltered and cared for, and avoid the already difficult journey to another location. Families did not know what else to do. Rev. Hackworth says, “This is where Week of Compassion’s support makes a great difference. We have been able to ensure quality accompanying care…for people with disabilities….“The big success of L’Arche is that the fabric of community remains, no matter how many bombs are thrown.” The mission of Week of Compassion – to work with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world – means intentionally looking for opportunities and partnerships that serve the unmet needs in vulnerable communities. As Rev. Hackworth concluded, “When …we exemplify standing in presence and accompanying those on the margins, that is when we’re really following the way of Jesus Christ.” Let’s remember that next February when, once again, we give a special offering to Week of Compassion. More Peace, Tom
