Leap of Faith

When a spider begins to spin a web she will cast a strand of silk out into space. If it catches on a tree branch or bush then the spider begins to make a web connecting one strand to another until a lacey web is fashioned. The threads of a spider web are very tiny but amazingly powerful. It can catch large insects and is strong enough to hold a necklace of raindrops. But the artistry of the web begins with that first leap of thread. God has great plans for us, the sheep of God’s pasture. God equips us to do every good thing. The famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” reminds us: “The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth.” We need to do our part: take a leap of faith. God often calls us to do something that we don’t think we can do. In our own strength we fail, in God’s strength we can do all things. Is God calling you to do something? Cast your strand of silk and see if God is not waiting on the other side to catch it.

Memorial Stones

When the Israelites finally crossed into the Promised Land they passed through the Jordan on dry land (Joshua 4).  Joshua instructed the people to appoint one person from each tribe to take a stone out of the riverbed and to make a monument out of these stones to remember the miracle of the parting waters and the miracle of their entry into the Promised Land.  Taking time to remember important milestones an important part of life.  This coming week we celebrate Memorial Day and remember all those who sacrificed in service to their country.  We remember the goodness of God, who has provided for us and cared for us in countless ways.  We remember God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.  We remember God’s promises to us for eternal life and God’s never failing presence.  When you remember something you Re-Member it….you give it a body.  It comes alive through your memory.  As we remember we need to bodily live the promises of God in our words and actions in the world and our remembering will be worthwhile. 

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Susanna Wesley

On this Mother’s Day I am reflecting on the “Mother of Methodism,” Susanna Wesley.  Her sons, John and Charles, began the Methodist Movement that changed the world.  I believe that the Christian nurture of Susanna and her husband Rev. Samuel Wesley, had much to do with their success.  Susanna home schooled her many children at an early age and used the Bible as a means of instruction.  She also had private meetings with each one to inquire about their soul.  She practiced the means of grace as a way of life in the home: prayer, study of scripture, fasting, tithing, self examination, worship, and the Lord’s Supper.  She prayed for an hour in the morning and an hour at night.  When her husband was away on business she would conduct worship in her kitchen.  Susanna once wrote in her journal, “There is nothing I now desire to live for but to do some small service to my children, that as I have brought them into the world, I may, if it please God, be an instrument of doing good to their souls.”


 

There are children in our lives that need our Christian nurture.  They may be your own children or grand children or children in your church or neighborhood.  There is nothing more precious than nurturing the soul of a young person.  It is one of the most important things we can be doing as we strive to grow our churches. 

 

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Ministry of Meditation

I have always been intrigued by the story of Abigail found in I Samuel 25.  She is the wife of a wealthy landowner named Nabal.  David and his men asked Nabal for some food and Nabal refuses their request.  David felt this was an injustice since David and his men were something of a protection ring around Nabal’s sheep shearers and the field workers.  David was planning an act of retaliation when Abigail gets word of it and intercedes.  She brings a large gift of food to David and asks that he not avenge himself.  She said “My lord (David), let the blame be on me alone….please forgive your servant’s (Nabal), offense.”  Abigail did no wrong to David but she was willing to put the sins of her husband on her self and intercede in order to save the lives of the entire household.   David accepts her peace offering and gives up his plan to attack Nabal’s farm. 

 

Every day we encounter places of conflict and moments of discord between people.  There is a true need for the ministry of mediation.  It takes a humble person to take on the sins of another and work peace from the middle.  Standing in the gap between two disagreeable parties is the hardest place to be in life.  It is the place where Jesus stood as he was dying on the cross, making peace between God and people.  As imitators of Christ we are called to be the world’s peacemakers.  Where do you see places in your work or church where you can intercede with a “winning word of love.”  It will always involve personal sacrifice and courage.  I believe there would be more peace in this world if Christ’s people were actively building bridges of understanding and reconciliation where there is discord. 

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Pensions for the Central Conferences

The United Methodist pastors in the Central Conferences work very hard in our international settings.  Very few of them have pension plans that will afford them a living wage after they retire.  For many years the Cokesbury Bookstore has presented a check at Annual Conference for the ministerial pension fund.  We have been giving that check to the Central Conference Pension Fund.  This year, due to a decline in sales the bookstore regretfully is unable to make a donation this year.  We certainly understand, and offer this opportunity for us to be a blessing to our sisters and brothers in the Central Conferences.  I am inviting folks to make a donation of any amount so our friends will still receive money this year for their pensions.  If everyone gave even a little bit that would make a huge donation.  Checks can be written and sent to either EPA Annual Conference* (PO Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482) or PD Annual Conference (139 N. State Street, Dover, DE  19901) Put “Central Conference Pension Fund” in the memo line.   In these difficult economic times there is always something we can do to remind the world that God is a God of abundance and we have faith in God’s providing.

*Note that Online Donations for Eastern Pennsylvania Conference are coming soon!  Check back on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Native American Sunday - April 26, 2009

One of my joys since coming to the Philadelphia Area has been to learn more about Native American Ministries in the United Methodist Church.  In the Peninsula Delaware Conference there are two Native American Churches and the Eastern PA Conference is starting up a Native American Committee.  The rich heritage and spirituality of the Native American community is a vital part of the United Methodist Connection.  I encourage you to observe Native American Sunday on April 26^th and to take a special offering. The offering taken supports urban missions with Native Americans and funds scholarship of Native American seminarians.  The annual conference retains 50 percent of the offering to strengthen and develop local Native American ministries. 

 Why not include the following creed, written by Rev. Roger Scott, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in your worship service on April 26^th:

I believe in God, Creator of our unique native languages,

Who gifted us this identity as a distinct people through our native tongues,

So that our native spiritual leaders could relay God’s love to our Native people

Who could not understand that foreign tongue called English.

  I believe in Jesus Christ, our relative,

Who talked of us when he said “I have other sheep out there, besides those I have here.”

I believe in Jesus Christ who knew the pain of our native people who were forced from their homeland and had no place to lay their head.

I believe in Jesus Christ as our Chief Cornerstone as we begin to build a new generation of native spiritual leaders.

I believe in Jesus Christ who does not say “goodbye” in any language, but says “I will come again.”

  I believe in the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire

Lighting upon our native people to witness to their people and to the world, through the native song and dance.

I believe in the Holy Spirit as our guide and the driving force for our native people to do a new thing

As we walk a new journey, toward perfection for all humankind.

 (Reproduction permission is granted for use in church worship services in United Methodist Churches. Rev. Scott’s creed is copyrighted so any further use of his work beyond a worship service must be done with permission from the author.  Reproduction requests can be emailed to Anita Phillips at aphillips@gbgm-umc.org who will forward the request to the author).

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

The First Question

     When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning what was his first question?  “Woman, why are you weeping?”    This he asked because there was nothing to be crying about.  Jesus was not dead.  It was not a sad time.  It was a happy time.  Of course she did not know this at first but as soon as she recognized Jesus her tears turned to joy! 

     Still today Jesus asks,  “Why are you weeping?”  We already know that Jesus has risen from the dead and that in the end everything is going to be all right but still we weep, still we doubt, still we complain.   Surely in life we have sorrow and difficulty and God does not expect us to be smiling all of the time.  Deep inside we never need to weep because of Easter.  Life will ultimately triumph over death, good will always defeat evil, and love will overcome the power of hatred. 

     Whatever is breaking your heart, whatever makes you feel sad, remember to light a candle of hope in your heart and trust in a good God who will make Good Friday become Easter.

     Why are you weeping?

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson