Reservoir

“If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.” – Bernard of Clairvaux


I love the church, my church, the United Methodist Church, and I have a fondness for the ecumenical movement.  
I am a young adult.  
Today, that isn't the most common combination out there.  
I hear, read, and see a lot of conversation about what we as a church are doing wrong, or ways to improve, or talk about SIMPLY living out the gospel instead of getting caught up in the bureaucracy of "religion."  I do worry about the future of my church.  (hence why I read the blogs/have the conversations)  Yet I'm not about to jump ship - I'm actually planning on staying aboard (and getting ordained!).  
Culture, context, social location, I'm learning are all major factors in a person seeking and accepting the grace God offers us all.  And even more so - having one's basic needs met.  Without clean water, a steady and strong roof over your families head, access to education - there may be more important things to deal with than a confusing idea of salvation.  
With the advent of the internet at our fingertips, everything from ancient philosophers teachings to Pinterest boards of "Outdoor Inspirations" are even more available than the public library.  Social Media is an integral marketing aspect of our ministries and our churches.  Yet I hear many young adults asking for simplistic ways to "change the world" and spouting a desire to serve others.  While honorable (and I do share these sentiments) I also have a firm belief that true and deep faith (not cheap grace) come with involvement in a christian community.  Discipleship matters.  Our language matters.  From how we talk about God to how we talk to each other.  These concepts are not always simplistic, but are what Jesus calls us to - true relationship.  
We, and when I say we I mean all generations of the church, must respect one another and the wisdom and experience we all share.  Opting out of "religion" isn't the answer.  Using "hip and contemporary" movie clips or music in worship isn't the answer (yet engaging worship is great!) deep relationships are what we all desire, meeting peoples needs is what we are each called to do, and supporting each other in community is a part of our human nature.  
What will I do?  Continue to be idealist I hope.  Continue to seek God and study those who have gone before me to become a reservoir that can last - not a river of the moment.  


May God's peace be with you on your journey.  
your sister in Christ~Erin 

Always learning, always growing, always challenged

Oh summer camp, how you consume my life for months and allow me to both be myself and stretch me in every way possible!  Oh God how you have given me this incredible blessing of summer camp, yet challenge me to never be still and comfortable!  Anyway - I'm hoping to share more here again on a regular basis now that it's almost September. 

Yet, I am turning to a new chapter in my life as well.  Since last January when I began working full time at camp, I have fully settled in here and LOVE my job.  This summer I had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of young people on staff and support them/challenge them/and see them grow.  I loved every minute of it (even if I didn't think so at the time) and I only hope that God continues to bless our camps and myself with many more years of summer camp!

However, now I will attempt work at camp (full time) with seminary (part time, and as much online as possible).  Yes friends.  I am starting.  Who knows how long it will take me to finish this way - but I love my job in ministry here and I don't want to quit to go to school to do what I'm already doing here!!!  I feel called to serve.  I have a heart for the church, yes I know that she has her flaws - but that's mostly because the church just like the world is full of people, and we are all flawed!  We hold grudges, we like our routines, we struggle with change, we judge each other, and we fail to reach out.  But I still love the church.  (And people in general).  Even after lots of reflection, I honestly don't think that my love of people solely rests upon my intense optimism, it rests upon my Lord and God.  It hasn't always been there.  Many people in my life have hurt me and I have been wounded in ways that don't tend to heal easily.  Yet behold the amazing power and love of God!  He can fill us all with his love for creation and his people.  There are so many others out there still hurting and struggling to simply provide for their families and live life.  Church - lets go to them and help!  In every way possible - from sharing our food to sharing our hearts and welcoming others into our places and spaces, making a home together. 

Never easy, this I know.  But church, I'm not backing down.  I love camp - but I love camp not just for the obvious beauty, but for the fact that camp is such an amazing place to embrace the wounded and nurture them until they are ready to go back out and into the world.  We all need to go.  Jesus makes that clear - "go out and make disciples".  No matter how much we love our churches, our families, and yes even camp - we need to go out into the world and share the love and light of God. 

So I'm going out to seminary.  To learn more to in turn teach more.  I'm ridiculously nervous about it and excited all at the same time.  A deacon.  Sigh.  Someday.  That is my calling, to the best of my understanding.  A deacon working at camp.  ?  Or at least a deacon working in the world. 

Prayers for the world,
prayers for our leaders,
prayers for new students.
Peace,
your sister in Christ ~Erin

Change the World

The United Methodist Church is sponsoring a day of volunteering around the globe.  Awesome!  This is the second year of this project and I'm excited about it. 

Get involved locally. 
Improve health globally.
Change the World. 

That's something I'm proud of coming out of our church.  :) 
The idea of the event is to challenge local congregations to partner with other groups in town and do some volunteer or service work.  If you would like to, they also encourage you to raise money for Imagine No Malaria.  (Related to Nothing But Nets - but do more than prevention - treatment, education, etc)

There are a lot of humanitarian organizations out there.  Some I agree with, some I am alittle leary of.  I do however appreciate the church (my church) getting out and doing something.  Not that they don't, there are many amazing programs happening on the local/conference/jurisdictional/etc level.  Prison ministries, homeless ministries, etc, but this is uniting, simple, and easy. 

That weekend my home church is coming to camp for a retreat.  Perhaps I'll talk them into a project somewhere.... :) 

What will you DO to change the world? 
Peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Church as a verb

The United Methodist Church has been working with this new marketing tool for a while:

What if church was a verb?

What if the church was really an inclusive community of faith with it's doors opening and welcoming to EVERYONE?  

This is a marketing strategy aimed at young people.  I believe some of it is a reaction of the topic brought up in Kinnam's book "unchristian".  It's a discussion of issues young people today have with "the church".  Examples:  too political, confusing, not accepting, hypocritical, insensitive, judgmental, old fashioned, out of touch, boring.  So young adults - what is your reaction?  Perhaps a more basic question - what do YOU think of the church?  What has shaped these opinions?  (experience?)  What is your opinion on spirituality?  

Leaders in the church are trying to reach out to our generation.  Here are some questions they have:  

What is essential for a Young Adult to feel accepted in a church for the first time?

What are the factors that will determine whether they come back?

My thoughts - I am looking for a church with a multi generational community (folks my age, kids, all ages).  I want a community which can help me grow as a disciple and is welcoming and open.  Honestly, first I will look at the website, but in order for me to come back I want to feel welcome.  More importantly though I want to have had a positive worship experience - something that spoke to me.  Be it the music, the sermon, or the general feeling and style.  I don't think church is a verb, the church/the body of Christ/the bride of Christ - we are a community of believers - people.   

Your thoughts?  

God Bless your and yours,

your sister in Christ~Erin