Rev. Lettie is back to blogging again!

Greetings All,

I have been away from blogging and daily discussion far too long, and now I'm back in the groove of things.  First let me start by saying Happy New Year to each of you and welcome to the Lenten Season.  The Lenten Season starts on Wednesday, February 13, Lent is a time of waiting, preparing, reflection, and self-examination during the 40 days before Easter.  Many of you will sacrifice or fast from something during these 40 days excluding Sunday.  

When you prepare for Lent, truly let this be a true sacrifice, something that is your true weakness.  (i.e. overindulgence of sweets, excessive internet use, constant television watching, constant negative attitude and excessive social media).  

With that said, my commitment is beyond Lent but starting on Ash Wednesday, I will work on my attitude and tone with people who offend me.  It's really easy for me to cut people off, chew them up and spit them out, because of the way they treated me.  In the meantime, I will be apart of a covenant group that will also serve as my accountability group, counseling session and conscience when I'm having one of those let me cuss you out day.  Yes, I said cuss, but not curse.  There's a difference!

Now you know what I'm doing for Lent, hit me up to let me know what you are doing!

 

The Pastorate - Eight Months Check-In

As I reflect on the first eight (8) months as a part-time UMC pastor (part-time LOL), I realize that seminary doesn't offer a practical view or seminar on the pastorate.  As I thought back to my first year of seminary in 2001, there was an orientation seminar about "So you have been called to Pastor".  I took the seminar because I knew God had called me to the pastorate.  Wow, it has taken 11 years but God opened the door.

 As I journeyed through seminary, I forgot about the seminar and when I returned to my home church, the pastorate was so far from my view.  I thought I didn't hear God right when God called me to pastor.  Since I saw nothing was changing in my local church, I started working on my craft: preaching, teaching and writing.  Although I'm a tech geek, I didn't integrate technology into proclamation.  I've read books about revitalizing the church and how our spiritual gifts are used in the building of God's Kingdom on earth.  

During my waiting period I kept educating and positioning myself to be in places where I could learn even if I was not taught. In the areas where I had influence in leadership I was able to be pastor.  I counseled, prepared a budget, created presentations, raised funds for ministry in addition to preaching, teaching, stewardship and missions.  What I learned by asking, watching and reading helped me to be prepared for the pastorate.  

Being pastor has it challenges.  There will be people who will find fault with the pastor because they can't control the pastor.  There will be people who will catch the vision and move because they are ready for growth.  There will be people who will not appreciate the gifts the pastor brings into ministry.  Being pastor is more than taking our ideas, visions and dreams and making them the churches ideas, visions and dreams.  When the pastor and people work on the common areas there will be some exciting times in ministry.  There will be days when you can breathe easy because of the support.  

I'm glad I have colleagues in ministry who gave me great advice, books to read, workshops to attend and a listening ear.  I'm proud to say that since I've listened to God on this journey, I've been focus on what God want from the ministry more than what I want.  Keep focusing on God and listen to the cry from the community then the branch of Zion will meet the needs of the community.  The key is for us to be a light in our communities.  In order to do that we need to be united as one and welcome the world in the church and be apart of the change agent outside the church.

 

The Weary Need Rest

It has been a while since I've posted a Bible Study lesson or other encouraging words. Traveling weekly, working long hours, trying to maintain a healthy spiritual and lifestyle is a lot on the body. This year have been the year of changes. I have been overwhelmed with additional responsibilities that has taken time away from writing. Our bodies will tell us when we need the rest and this time I listened intently and took the time I needed for renew my physical and spiritual body.

The next Bible Study lesson will be available on Tuesday as we continue with Meditation. Continue to keep me in prayer as I will do each of you who are following me on this new journey of my life.

The Body of Christ and the Church

As I ran errands yesterday, I encountered a number of hurting people who have been mistreated and abused by church members and church leaders. As they shared their story with me, I could hear the hurt in their voice and see the hurt on their face. It is time for us to take responsibility for our words and actions towards others in the body of Christ. We must confront the issues that is festering and destroying the unity in the body of Christ. If our leadership style is to avoid conflict then we will always have conflict and people doing whatever they want to do. If we are followers who are trying to help with the conflict and get rejected how are we suppose to worship in love and peace when a spirit of confusion continue to exist?

We know that God is not a God of mess and confusion, therefore as we look across the country we find churches big and small suffering because of it. As we pray daily let us pray for the weak and controlling mess makers who only want to keep things going. Let us pray for the leaders who avoid conflict as a resolution to issues. If our focus on this Christian Journey is prosperity and riches, then we have missed the meaning of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.