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on this page. To e-mail Rev. Earl, simply click on the link that is part of
his signature following each message."Rev. Earl's Musings" is a regular feature prepared for friends and members of St. John's United Methodist Church in Lutherville, Maryland, by its pastor, Rev. Earl E. Mason. The current issue can be found on the "Message" page of St. John's web site as well as in the printed church newsletter, "The St. John's Story." This page of recent "Musings" offers the opportunity to pause and reflect on the issues raised.
To
return to St. John's United Methodist Church home page,
just click on any Cross and Flame symbol
on this page. To e-mail Rev. Earl, simply click on the link that is part of
his signature following each message.
January 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
The beginning of a new year is both a time of reflection and a time of hope. We can look over past years and remember some things that were good and some that were not so good. Then comes the question of where we go from here?
At the beginning of the year 2000, all the talk was of what disasters Y2K was going to give us. Now we wonder, what is 2001 going to bring?
When growing up in Baltimore (about a block from the county line) we had a disc jockey on WCAO, who would close his shift with two questions.
The year 2001 has great potential for spiritual growth, yet that is up to you. We will be providing many new opportunities to learn and to serve in this coming year. We are in the midst of looking at how we can better serve and work together.
We will be having many new officers this year. Some are new to our church as well, in that they have joined in the last couple of years. Please keep all of our church leaders in your prayers. The year also offers some new challenges.
Thanks to the hard work of the trustees (Ray Crawford, chairperson), we have come a long way in making the inside of our church building as beautiful as the outside. While offerings have continued to increase, the $30,000.00 (my guess in very round numbers) we have spent on the renovation and repair this year has limited our reserve for the coming year. Notice, there is no talk of the "bottom line" here, because for us "the bottom line" is people and ministry. Money helps us be more effective in reaching our bottom line of ministry and people.
I don't know what the new year will bring financially. When oil and gas prices jump as they did this year, it affects us in three ways. First, people have less to give. Second, our expenses for gas and oil go up (roughly twice) last year ($2,000.00 this month alone). Third, more people will be coming needing help.
However, there is a part of me that looks at this and thinks, "OK Lord, let's see what you are going to do this time." I have found in 25 years of ministry that as we are faithful to what we have to do, the Lord always provides.
When we look only to ourselves, we never have enough. We are in the knowledge and love of God this new year, because of the work of those who through great difficulty brought us the precious gift of faith in the Lord, usually through the work of the church. Can we give any less than what was given to us?
Let us rededicate our lives to the work of our Lord and may our new year be rich and full of the Spirit that comes from God.
Yours in Christ's Service,
February 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
The ancient philosopher, Heraditus of Ephesus between 501-504 BC said, "You cannot step twice into the same river." To which one of his students replied, "You cannot step once into the same river."
Change is constant and in the modern world it seems to be cumulative. In a world where everything seems to be changing, it is essential to have some constants. Forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and hope are all constants that we have in our faith in Jesus as Lord.
Another constant we have is a set of teachings, standards and values given by the same Lord. They go together; the peace, the hope, the teachings and the standards. They work together to bring about good in our lives.
Our principles are not to be changed by developing cultures because they are based on unchanging principles of God, who loves us and is always ready to receive us when we turn back to him. No matter how far we run. No matter what we have done. As soon as we turn around, he is there with open arms.
The ever-changing world is constant in its own way. You can never find in it the love, hope, peace and especially the forgiveness that you can find in God.
The world is also ready through television, radio, etc. to tell us right from wrong based on the world's standards. The world's standards are always changing. To hold onto them is like trying to grab a handful of smoke.
Ash Wednesday, February 28 marks the beginning of Lent when we traditionally reexamine our lives in the light of the gospel, repent of our sins and renew our relationship with God into something closer, fuller and deeper. Do you have to go to church to receive this? No. However, if you want to keep that relationship with God growing and developing it surely helps.
The time may come when you can no longer come to church, then the fellowship will go to you for you will be a part of us.
Yours in Christ's Service,
March 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
The season of Lent we are in consists of 40 days plus the six Sundays before Easter.
It is a time to remember the cross and the sacrifice that Christ made there for the forgiveness of our sins.
It is a time to remember His back was whipped for our sins.
The cross was carried for our sins.
The nails were driven for our sins.
His body hung there in agony for our sins.
All this was done to reconcile us, to bring us into a closer relationship with God, our Father.
Does the cross matter?
How much?
Yours in Christ's Service,
April 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
It is appropriate that Easter comes in the spring, for no other season expresses the newness of life better than spring.
It is at Easter that we remember the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. It is in spring that we see the resurrection of nature in the dead trees, grass and flowers coming back to life.
We, however, are fortunate that we do not have to wait for a special day or season to feel the renewing power of Christ Jesus in our lives. He is there whenever we are willing to let him in. He is there to share our joys and sorrows, our victories and our defeats.
I believe he understands us as no one else does. He went before us experiencing all of life and what it has to offer and went on to experience pain and even death. He also dwells in us. When we do good, he rejoices and when we do evil, he is ready to forgive.
Have a happy spring and may the joy of the resurrection of our Lord be with you daily.
Yours in Christ's Service,
May 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
Last week it snowed. Yesterday, it was 88 degrees outside. This morning, a little before sunrise, I am outside in a T-shirt. The weather changes yet one thing that doesn't change is God's constant love for us, his children.
The Lord has given us a beautiful home to live in with the world he has provided. The birds are singing all around me. I hear the call of a crow, the coo of a dove, the chirp of some small bird and many others I do not recognize in a chorus of music this bright and beautiful morning. Each has their own song, all different, all God's creations, like the people I meet each day. Some are like the crows and some are like the doves, yet they are all God's creation.
The crocuses are gone and the daffodils are fading. Near by the tulips are just starting to come into their full glory and the roses are but a promise of what is to come. This reminds me of my faith. The crocuses and the daffodils are like the prophets of springtime. The tulips are like our resurrected Lord, so bright and so intense in their colors. They are my favorite flowers. They are short lived like the short time our resurrected Lord was with the disciples before his ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9.)
The roses (we have lots of rose bushes) are like the future hope that we have
in the Lord. The roses, unlike the other flowers, do not come and go but bloom
and bloom and bloom, like our future hope, which is eternal. There are many
other flowers and I will enjoy each as it comes. Each day gives me something
to enjoy. As it says in Philippians 4:8-9 (one of my favorite Bible passages)
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
. . . and the God of peace will be with you." And in Matthew 6:25-26 "Therefore
I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. What you shall eat or what you
shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than
food and the body more that clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?"
The sun is starting to rise and is coming up between the trees. It is going to be a beautiful day. Now is a bright and wonderful time of the year. After Easter Jesus came to the disciples and the Bible describes in detail how he would appear. They were in the upper room talking about the reports they had heard from the women about seeing the Lord that morning. Now it was night and most of the disciples had yet to see the risen Lord. Just then two disciples entered, exclaiming they have seen the risen Lord. While they spoke, he appears in their midst and eats with them. Another time, they are on the Sea of Galilee fishing and he appears on the shore. Only one account describes how he disappeared. After he appeared to the disciples along the road to Emmaus and the disciples invited him in to eat as the day was well spent and darkness was coming. It was in the breaking of the bread they recognized him and he disappeared.
This morning I could have concentrated on the constant traffic in front of my house, or the grass that needs to be cut, or the paper work I have to do, or some other unpleasant things I need to take care of. Yet right now I am going to concentrate on what I can enjoy, and I have enjoyed this opportunity to write to you. I hope to see you soon where possible.
Yours in Christ's Service,
June 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
June 3 is the day of Pentecost, when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit with tongues of fire resting on the 120 men and women in the upper room. They went out and shared the good news of the new faith and hope we have in Jesus Christ. Death is not the final word in a person's life. Jesus Christ overcame death and has gone to prepare a place for us.
Pentecost is much more than the receiving of God's presence. It was immediately accompanied with the sharing with others. The giving, the receiving and the giving back again are inseparably a part of each other. To receive God's presence and not share with others, was unthinkable.
We also remember Pentecost because of the miracle of each hearing the disciples in their own native language. Reaching people where they are is an integral part of Pentecost.
How are you going to continue
to reach out to share the good news? The most effective way is personal. Whether
you see the worship service as solemn, uplifting or joyful, the spirit of God
is still touching people and inviting people to share in this experience. Our
second most effective way has been the web page. At least once a month, someone
visits St. John's just because they liked what they saw on the web page.
Another way will be Igniting Ministries, which is an advertisement campaign,
starting in September, and church openness training. Our hearts, our minds and
our doors will be open. Of the three, the open mind is most important. As the
spirit comes in, we become aware of the changes in our personal life and corporate
life necessary to witness to express the gospel in the world of today.
Yours in Christ's Service,
Summer 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
What do the following items have in common: the space shuttle, Tiananmen Square, Jaws, the American hostages in Iran, and the finding of the Titanic? The answer is the youth starting college this year remember none of this. They were either too young or not even born yet. How do we make the gospel of Jesus Christ relevant to this generation? They are important. They are out children and our grandchildren. We know they like hands on projects such as missions and don't like meetings. Efforts like the Contemporary Worship service, year-round Church School, Vacation Bible School, Youth Groups, the Golden Road Coffee House, Saving Stations, Moms Day Out, Alpha, Igniting Ministries and the web page are a few of the ways we are responding here at St. John's United Methodist Church.
Having said this, our main focus is still our traditional Worship service, care for our sick and home members, Bible studies, counseling, Munch and Mingle Lunch Bunch, the Gathering, Markings, Chat ‘n' Chew, United Methodist Women, the circles, parish nursing, and shepherding. You will also read about some new things such as Disciple Bible Study 1 and 4 classes starting in September. We do all this while still reaching out in ministries such as ACTC (Assistance Center of Towson Churches), Carpenter's Kitchen, Refugee Resettlement project and the Container project for Africa.
I don't think we have ever offered so much to meet the needs of our existing members both spiritually and socially while still being inviting and open to the needs of members yet to come. This is a truly exciting time to be at St. John's United Methodist Church.
Yours in Christ's Service,
September 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
Have you ever given it your best to fix something, or put together something, and you are finally ready to give up? Nothing is working. Nothing is going together as planned. When everything else has failed, we finally give in, and get out the instruction book. Men more than women seem prone not to ask for directions.
Sometimes we look at the Bible as our direction book. It is, yet it is so much more. It is the stories of real people facing tough challenges and hard decisions. It is not a fairy tale. Sometimes the "good guy or gal" makes the wrong choice and very real consequences take place.
Sometimes I hear it is
too hard to understand. I know there are a few passages I am going to ask the
Lord about when I go to see Him. It is intricate enough that as we read it we
get new insights even with familiar passages.
Many people will say they know they should read it more, but where is the time?
I know often in life the urgent things stop us from doing the important things.
This is important.
I invite you to share in a spiritual journey. There are five studies starting this September. There should be something for everybody. If you want to come, and we don't offer a time that will work, let us know and let us see what we can do.
Sometime persons are afraid they will be put on the spot or won't know how to share their ideas. We who are leading the studies will do what we can to see that doesn't happen. Three of the studies have reading assignments to prepare persons for the class. The Alpha class does not have any "homework." The courses vary in length with the Alpha being 11 weeks. FaithQuest will be 18 weeks, and Disciple I being 35 weeks and Disciple IV being 33 weeks. The United Methodist Women are sponsoring a study on "Corageous Women of the Bible" during their Circle meetings. All the studies include an introduction to see if you are interested. All three studies include video tapes for each session and they are quite good.
Some may be concerned that they have not been able to attend St. John's for a while, what would people think if they just sign up for a Bible study. I do not know about other people, but to me, I think it would be great! What better way to get back involved and test the waters.
Some wonderful things can
come from Bible study. In a study of Colossians, I met my wife.
She shared her Bible with me and I appreciated it so much, I married her. You
never know what the Lord has to give you in the study of his word.
What a great opportunity is being offered here. I am looking forward to learning with you
Yours in Christ's Service,
October 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
The world we live in has changed so much since the last time I wrote to you. In some ways, it seems like America had collectively been asleep, trusting in the CIA and FBI to always protect us from terrorism. We would read about how plots were intercepted and stopped in the past, and knew no organization would always be 100% effective against such groups. Now America has awakened to a nightmare. The pain of what happened on September 11 will lessen, yet the memory needs to remain vivid. The enemy our nation faces is not a new one, and it did not suddenly appear. Terrorism has been around for a long time. It grows, nourished by hatred, bigotry, deprivation and despair.
Terrorism is defeated not just with military action, but also by caring, justice, opportunity, and hope. Take away its root causes and those who would peddle hatred to further their own causes will not find many buyers.
Our faith helps us with the immediate loss, as it has always done; people showing caring and the Lord showing Himself through his people. We gather for comfort, strength, care, and guidance.
Together we are there through the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. When we had our annual collection drive, last January through March, we never dreamed how close the disaster would be. We are there, providing both physically for persons needs and counseling.
Locally at St. John's United
Methodist Church, we were open for prayer, starting at noon on Tuesday, September
11 until midnight; and again on Wednesday from 6:00 A.M. till midnight. We also
had a Community Memorial Service for Peace, Justice and Healing on Saturday
which many persons attended. Some who attended were new to St. John's, and some
we have not seen for a while and it was good to see them again. We were there
for each other.
Most important, the Lord is there. He always has been. Ready to receive us when
we turn to Him. He is there. He will never abandon or forsake you. You are his
precious children.
Yours in Christ's Service,
November 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
Last month we threw a party at St. John's. We had planned SONFEST originally
for September 15 when we could reasonably expect good weather. We were determined
when we had to cancel to still have it later and life would go on. When told
it was expected to rain on Saturday, we simply called for prayer and decided
not to change our plans. As you all know who were there Saturday, we had the
most perfect weather imaginable. The list of activities attracted a couple of
hundred people and SONFEST was a great success.
What was planned as just a party became both a therapeutic break from the world around us and an affirmation that joy couldn't be taken from us. To see the place filled with children playing was great. To see adults wandering around and enjoying a free hot dog was wonderful. We know SONFEST for most of those attending was just a nice get- together, not really a big thing. Yet joy is made up usually of a lot of little things and we were very glad to provide one of them.
Will SONFEST be a life changing experience? It may be for some, for there certainly were persons who expressed interest in coming to St. John's. It may be for them the beginning of a deeper spiritual walk.
Contentment, peace, hope, joy, all these are available through Jesus Christ. The world seems to be so troubled now. I feel sorry for all those persons who seem to have such a spirit of fear in their lives. I am reminded of two passages in the scriptures. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:17). Then from the words of Jesus, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day." (Matthew 6:24)
I would like you to try something. I don't know where you will be when you are reading this. Wherever you are, take a moment to look around you. Are there things that make you smile? Is there beauty you have not taken time to enjoy? The reminders of the gifts of God are all around us. This should not be surprising. It is after all still God's creation. Enjoy it! God will be pleased. After all, don't parents want their children to enjoy their gifts.
Yours in Christ's Service,
December 2001 Musings
Dear Members and Friends,
Have you ever sat down and written a plan for the coming year to reach those goals? What would you like to accomplish with the next year of your life?
Do you ever feel God has a plan for your life? Not something God is going to force you to do, but something God is inviting you to share in. A lot of persons in various occupations have shared a kind of "call" to the work they are doing. Yet as important as that might be, it is a small part of the total picture of the life God invites us to share in.
The plan for Christ's coming was probably established before the creation of the world. Yet we only begin to learn of it in prophecies a thousand years before the birth of Christ. Amazing accounts and detailed prophecies existed about Jesus' birth, life, and death.
His coming was accompanied by angels and visions. It was truly spectacular. His birth was not surrounded by wealth and power. He was born in a stable. His parents were not rulers, wealthy, or even well educated. There was something Mary and Joseph had, that God saw as important. I wonder what was so outstanding about them that God chose them to have and raise the Christ child. Obviously God has a different understanding of what is important in life.
Since September 11, a lot of people are reexamining their lives. Some are turning to gas masks and guns, while others are renewing their commitment to the Lord. Where are you? Whom do you put your trust in? The changes that you make in the coming year can begin and be as small and as profound as the birth of the Christ child. The only problem with becoming a better person in the coming year is that it goes by one day at a time. That's all you have. Begin living this day with a renewed sense of Christ being born in you, of holiness, and of peace.
December 2, the first Sunday of Advent, we will be taking a look at the prophecies that surround the coming of Jesus and their profound implications for our lives. Then in the following weeks we will look at the drama and the characters surrounding the birth of Christ, such as the evil and somewhat insane King Herod, the curious wise men, the shepherds, and the angels, all of which can have important meaning for how we face life today.
I look forward to sharing with you in the joy of worship as we prepare our souls for Christmas.
Yours in Christ our Lord,
Click here to read "Musings" first published during the year 2000
Click here to read "Musings" first published during the year 2002
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