Rev. Tom Berlin’s eNote – May 23, 2013

Posted on May 23, 2013 by florisumc

Dear Floris Family,

I will be a part of the mission team to Sierra Leone next week. Our team will be composed primarily of college students from Floris and other partner churches. For many years I have enjoyed participating in Volunteer in Mission teams. I find that these experiences enable me to develop relationships with members of our church, see a part of the world very different from our own, and offer myself in service. I have not been to Sierra Leone in over two years and I am looking forward to seeing changes to the Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital. A number of new children have come to the CRC in recent months as the older kids have joined families in the Bo community or gone to college or vocational school. It will seem like a different place, in many ways, from when I was last there. Our work in Bo has been a major mission effort over the years. I enjoy seeing the progress of our partnership with the Sierra Leone Annual Conference because it helps me describe it to you and others who have made it possible.

While I am in Sierra Leone, we have another team that will be in Cuba. They will check on the progress of the church that was sponsored by our Christmas Eve offering five years ago. The church is now almost complete and our team will be visiting there and working on other construction projects. Building a church in Cuba is a long and arduous process, but the persistence of the Methodist Church there has paid off. Finally, a third team will be headed to New Jersey to work on homes impacted by Hurricane Sandy. These volunteers will be a blessing to those who are still working to get their lives back together after months of being displaced from their homes. The Sierra Leone and Sandy teams will be blogging so be sure to read their posts.

Many of us have seen the devastating storms in Oklahoma this week. The loss of life due to the tornado is a great tragedy. One of the great parts of being a connectional church that reaches across the U.S. is that while we are still helping people rebuild in New Jersey from Sandy, other United Methodist teams in the West and Midwest will soon start work in regions impacted by tornados there. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has already started working in Oklahoma. This Sunday we will provide an opportunity for you to give to UMCOR’s tornado response through a special offering.

Tim and Jake’s Excellent Adventure
Tim Ward and Jake McGlothin depart this week for a 10-day Eco-Justice Immersion experience with a group from Wesley Seminary. Dr. Shaun Casey, a professor of ethics who worships at Floris, will lead them on an immersion into God’s creation as it naturally exists at Yellowstone National Park. They will meet with some of the top scientists who study climate change. This trip will be an opportunity for Tim and Jake to be immersed in God’s creation and consider the call of Genesis 1:26 to care for creation.  Follow Tim and Jake’s adventures.

Prayer Tour Sign Up
Just a reminder that we are currently offering Community Prayer Tours on the church bus as part of our Pray in May focus. This is a great chance to learn and pray about our local community and how our church can best respond to our neighbors in need. We need at least five people for each tour, and I encourage you to sign up for a prayer tour today.

Live Streaming Starts on Sunday
We are very pleased to be able to offer live streaming of the 9:15 and 11 AM worship services every Sunday. This is a great way to worship if you are on vacation or unable to attend in person. Visit www.florisumc.org/livestream to participate.

Men’s Ministry Nationals Baseball Game
Floris is starting a new Men’s Ministry. The first event is a trip to see the Nationals play the Colorado Rockies on Sunday June 23. You can enjoy a day at the ballpark and also get to know other men from the church. I want to encourage you participate and invite a friend, neighbor or co-worker to join you. Find out the details of the baseball trip, or email Scott Nicholls with questions.

This Week in Worship
Be sure to worship with us this week as we continue our sermon series, Go!. Join me for the sermon, “An Invitation that Matters”.  Scripture: Romans 12:1-8.

In Christ,
-Tom

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Prayer Walk by Bill Gray

Posted on May 23, 2013 by florisumcblog

So I completed the Prayer Walk. At first I must admit that I thought it pretty hokey. I mean, I pray for the church and all, and for specifics as they are needed, but walking through the building and praying? Surprise—I was surprised. You know, the building really is quite large. There are areas that I hardly ever see or use. This could be compared to my prayer life. There are areas in prayer that I’ve hardly ever gone, methods I hardly use or hear about. As I go through the Pray in May, I can say that I’ve been surprised by how utilizing different methods and taking different postures have revealed God in different ways—especially through my communication with Him.

I take for granted all that Floris does. We are a service church after all. Heck, everyone knows us—from the ubiquitous FUMC stickers to the big programs we do and support. Yeah, great church. Yet what I experienced on the Prayer Walk wasn’t so much a remembrance of things and programs or a display of pride or puffed chest about accomplishments (although that isn’t as easy as it sounds). I’m overwhelmed by the commitment and passion that volunteers and staff demonstrate as a community in Christ. The Spirit is alive and working here. You can feel it. Room after room after room, filled most nights. Groups, be they young or old, seeker or saint, broken or healed. The Kingdom is just that, and here it is right before my eyes.  People ask, “What is the Kingdom anyway?” Well, the Prayer Walk showed me just that. The Kingdom is here and now, physical, tangible, present in the structure to be sure. But truly it is in the heart of those that participate in the presence of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.

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Rev. Tom Berlin’s eNote – May 16, 2013

Posted on May 16, 2013 by florisumc

Dear Floris Family,

I led a community prayer tour on Tuesday night with one of our small groups at Floris and was pleased by what a good experience it was. We all learned things about our community, some of which I knew but had forgotten, and some that was new information. It was good to pray for people who live in our area and the situations they face. It is easy to be so action-oriented that you can forget to begin things in prayer. Traveling around our community enabled me to see how our area is changing, and how people are living here. Some of the stops were familiar, others showed us things we drive past daily but never see. Along the way we talked, laughed, and discussed our church together. In the time since the prayer tour, I have found myself praying for our community and church, asking God where we might be most strategically used to reach people for Christ and bless those who are in need. I hope you are using the Daily Prayer Guide and will participate in the other opportunities as well. Here is more on our Pray in May initiative:

Pray in May Update
There are many ways to be a part of Floris’ May-June prayer focus. Join one of our 30 minute guided prayer sessions in the Chapel. These Chapel prayer sessions begin Sunday after the 9:15 and 11 AM services, and continue each week until June 9. You can also print a copy of our Daily Prayer Guide.  This is offered to assist you in your daily prayer for the next four weeks. Another great way to learn about prayer is to take a prayer walk of Floris UMC or join a prayer tour of the local community. You can take a self-led prayer walk of Floris with your small group or friends and learn about the ministry that is happening here. You can also climb aboard the church bus for a ride through our community. We will stop and learn about the issues that face those who live in our area and have time to pray for our community and our church. Be sure to sign up for a community prayer tour. One goal of this initiative is for the congregation to pray for the ministry of our church and share what God is saying to you with our Church Council. For more details about our May-June prayer focus, or to share your prayer feedback, visit Floris’ Pray in May page.

Floris Student Makes a Difference
You may remember that Floris held a packaging event for Stop Hunger Now in May 2012. We packaged 80,000 meals that were sent overseas to those in need. You will be pleased to know that this event had a tremendous impact on a student from Floris UMC who participated, Ryan Bracewell. He had so much fun while helping others that he wanted to bring a packaging event to his school, Lees Corner Elementary. He and friend Celie Anderson challenged their 6th grade class to raise the $2,500 required to host an event.  They made posters and had bake sales, and raised $4,300, enough to package 17,200 meals. You can read more about it in a recent Centre View article. If you see him, make sure to congratulate him on a job well done.

Parking Shuttles
At this time we will not be running shuttles again until September. Thanks to all of you who took the shuttle and helped to make Floris a more welcoming place for our guests.

Quote of the Week
This is from an email I received from a long-term Floris member: “I’m sure that many (probably all) were touched by the moms and kids who sang so beautifully together on Sunday. It was such a blessing in many ways but the one thing that really touched my heart was the racial diversity represented in the group. It was a beautiful thing to see all of God’s children, of different races and backgrounds worshipping God together…Praying that God continues to use Floris and all of us to extend His love to everyone.”

This Week in Worship
It is easy in the spring, with events and good weather, to neglect worship. So make sure to come to our celebration this week of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, when the Holy Spirit brought the first Christians together. Worship God this week as we continue our sermon series, Go!. Join me for a sermon that asks, “Why Does it Matter?”  Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, 43-47. 

In Christ,
- Tom

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Stillness by Bill Gray

Posted on May 14, 2013 by florisumcblog

Have you had those moments when all of a sudden a wind inside just sweeps over you? Like a warm rush. In a split second I feel my humanity. It is those moments I am so aware of my need for God; my deep desire to commune with the Creator. It’s the proverbial two by four. Christ says to me, “Where have you been? You aren’t at all centered. You are all over the place. The world is gripping you and you are letting it; seduced by the fruits of the world not those of the Spirit.”

I need prayer.

John Wesley instructed his group members to ask, “Am I enjoying prayer?” Hmmm. Enjoying prayer? I guess I never thought of prayer in that manner. Let’s face it; it is difficult, at least for me. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that everything I’ve been doing has been in a speed up mode, hurry, quick, I’m late. I have lived in the next moment, be that a few minutes, hours, days or even months. I concentrated on getting to where I needed to get. I then quickly moved onto the next thing – if it was conversation, then do it fast so I can get to my next destination. It felt just fine. I was accomplishing, making, creating, persuading, manipulating. Doing, doing, doing. I’m far from being alone in this. We even say we live the NOVA lifestyle: instant busyness, importance, super dad, husband, ______ you can fill in the blank. Being surrounded by it all the time, all the people I know doing it, it felt normal and I was happy. Well mostly. If I was being honest? I still had this insatiable gnawing in my soul but I had a talent for pushing this away and simply returning to that NOVA life.

A desire to commune with God has however forced me to the stillness. Pray my soul. Stop. “Be in silence with me” God says. “Be still and know that I am God.” I silence my body and focus on my heart beating. I focus on my thoughts. Fewer and fewer they become as I listen for my heartbeat and the rising of my chest as I breathe. Breathe deeply. God is in the stillness. It is a struggle to let go. My mind wonders. “Be in stillness with me,” God says. That is the focal point, simply in the stillness. Again my mind wonders. Of course it does. I want the benefits of deep communal prayer with God without doing any of the work. I force myself to sit still. Again I start. Again…again…again.

What have I learned through deep meditative Christian prayer? I’m addicted to movement and thought. I’m not even aware of how much I am addicted. I am frequently doing a task as my mind has already left and moved onto something else. What are my hands doing raised palms up? Oh yeah PRAYING! My mind can rifle through a series of thought, however disparate, in a nanosecond. What I’ve come to know is I can actually “slip” into stillness with practice. Part of me wants to skip that practice. But if I don’t go through the motions I’m not doing anything different. When I stop and begin the stillness God is already there. I don’t need to go through some complicated series of mantras. The kingdom lives within me and I in it. I am simply in the presence of the Almighty! Who on this journey doesn’t want that? Talk about feeling energized. I can do all things through him. At least for the moment, and in the end that’s all I have.

I pray for you. I pray that you, too, will take the urging of our loving God to seek the stillness. It takes practice and you have to do it over a period of time. Even the masters of this type of prayer have tough times in calming the mind. But it can be done. Take ten minutes each day and stop, breathe deeply, listen to your heartbeat, let your thoughts go and concentrate on meeting God.

God is waiting for you.

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Learn Your Story by Susan Ward

Posted on May 13, 2013 by florisumcblog

Three questions.

Why do people need Jesus Christ?

Why do people need the Church?

Why do people need our church?

Depending on how you look at it, those three questions can be very easy or very difficult to answer. They can be easy because it’s easy to look at others and make general assumptions. It’s easy to say, “Well all people are sinners, and, therefore, they all need to be saved so they all need Jesus. People need the Church because the Church teaches you about Jesus, and people need our church because our church has a lot of really great ministries for people to learn about Jesus.” There you go. Done and done.

It gets difficult to answer those questions when you realize that some people have found other solutions to their brokenness. Some people feel the hurt and sadness in the world, and they find temporary band-aids to hide the pain. They aren’t always aware of the problem. And now you are no longer just supplying the answer to the problem but you are needing to convince the person that there is a problem as well. This just became a lot more complicated.

But watch what happens when I change the questions slightly.

Why do I need Jesus Christ?

Why do I need the Church?

Why do I need our church?

Some of us can answer these questions quicker than others. Given enough time, we can all answer the questions. There are no wrong answers. We all have our reasons. Each of us came here for something; each of us stayed for something different. We all have our stories. They are our stories. They cannot be wrong.

When we know our stories and are comfortable with our stories, talking to people about Jesus is no longer scary. We know the truth as it applies to our story, and we can proclaim that with confidence.

But you have to know your story.

You have to know your answers.

Which means you have to ask yourself the questions.

So ask yourself the questions. Take the time to answer them. Learn your story.

Others will thank you for it later.

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eNote from Rev. Tom Berlin – May 9, 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by florisumc

Dear Floris Family, 

Every so often I put a call out to the church in which I ask everyone to do something. For four weeks in May and June, that call is to pray. I want you to pray for two reasons:

  1. Prayer is an essential Christian discipline that leaves us feeling closer to God. It is a habit that must be in place if we are to mature in our faith.
  2. I want us to seek God’s will for our church for the year ahead.

Several weeks ago a Floris member asked me what “the next big thing” was going to be at Floris UMC. The Church Council has been spending a lot of time on that very question. I want to invite you to join that conversation through the means of prayer, and then share what insights God gives you as a result. There are many ways to pray, and so I have a variety of options for you to consider, including:

  • Individual prayer guide for four weeks
  • Prayer in the chapel led by members of the church
  • A prayer walk in our facility that can be self-led or done with your small group or a group of friends
  • A community prayer tour, which will be advertised so that you can sign up

You can find a general description of what we will be offering on our Pray in May (and June) page.  The prayer guide for individuals and other opportunities will be updated next week.  I will be talking more about this during my sermon on Sunday. Join me in prayer in the coming weeks.

World Malaria Day Update
Kid Nation hosted its first World Malaria Day for families from Floris and the local community two weeks ago. I could not believe what a wonderful job they did informing kids and families about malaria while having fun at the same time. The Gathering Space was filled with kids making mosquitos out of pipe cleaners and drums out of plastic cups. Displays explaining Malaria, and how HCW’s Mercy Hospital is making an impact in Sierra Leone, were placed around Fellowship Hall. Those attending also enjoyed African food and music.

PhotoIt just so happened that Shannon Trilli, with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), was here at Floris that evening at a meeting regarding a new initiative at Mercy Hospital. Shannon is in charge of UMCOR’s medical services and has been a key person in the Imagine No Malaria campaign that has reduced malaria rates in some areas by as much as 40%. She spends most of her time in locations where bed nets and medications are distributed and was thrilled to see the support of the local church.  This event, along with our Sunday School classes, raised more than $3,000. These funds will be used to purchase nets through the Imagine No Malaria campaign and test and treatment kits at Mercy Hospital.

Parking Shuttles
We will be offering parking shuttles through this Sunday. Please park at the Network Solutions/XO Communications lot and take the Floris Shuttle so that our Mother’s Day guests and first time visitors can find a parking spot easily on Sunday morning.

This Week in Worship
As Christians we sometimes sense an opportunity to share our faith in Christ with another person, but we often stop short because we feel unprepared. On Sunday we continue our series, Go!, that is designed to equip us for conversations about our faith in Christ that are helpful and not alienating. Join us as we consider “Three Important Questions”.  Scripture: Acts 8:26-38.

In Christ,
-Tom

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Beautiful Songs to Share God’s Love by Yoon Nam

Posted on May 8, 2013 by florisumcblog

Happy Mother’s Day to all who are mothers or live like mothers to others!

After I became a mother, I learned more about God’ s love and care as our Father. God’s love was even more meaningful to me than ever before. I also became more appreciative of my mom. I think that most mothers feel the same as I do. I truly believe that God made mothers to show His care and love toward us on earth. We will have several beautiful songs to share God’s love and to celebrate the love shown through mothers during worship services this Sunday.

At the 8:00 AM service, the Sonrise Singers will present, “Treasure Each Moment” as an offertory.  It may lead us to be thankful for each moment He has given us. At the 9:15 AM and 11:00 AM services, the combined children’s Little Praisers and JaM Choirs will sing, “You Are the Hands” as a Mother’s Day anthem.  Some parents will join with the children. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I pray that you all feel God’s love and mercy through this song. Also, at the 11:00 AM service, the Sanctuary Choir will sing, “I Will Lift My Eyes” as an offertory accompanied by musicians playing cello and clarinet.

We will all prepare our heart and music to first glorify God and show His love toward others. We pray that God will use our music to open people’s hearts and bring them comfort.

These are the lyrics to “You Are the Hands” for you to think about.

You are the hands that help me as I grow. You are the eyes that watch me as I go.             You are the ears that hear me calling, the arms when I am falling.                                 Because of you, I know what love is meant to be.                                                                Because of you, I know that God loves me.

I am the hands that help you as you grow.                                                                                       I am the eyes that watch you as you go.                                                                                             I am the ears that hear you calling, the arms when you are falling.                                     Because of you, I know what love is meant to be.                                                               Because of you, I know that God loves me.

I love you higher than the mountains and taller than the trees, deeper than the canyons and wider than the seas.

God will walk beside me to love and gently guide me.                                                                   O God for all our days, we will give to you our highest praise!                                                    O Lord, you are the hands that help as I grow, eyes that watch as I go.                                Hear me call when I fall. Because of you, I know what love is meant to be.

O Lord, I know, I know that you love me!

 

 

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Change in Plans by Susan Ward

Posted on May 6, 2013 by florisumcblog

My Monday mornings are pretty much the same every week. I arrive at work around eight-thirty. I check my email. I attend to the immediate. By nine, I usually start writing the Monday morning blog post. Most mornings I have an idea what I’ll write. I usually take notes during the sermon, then let those thoughts marinate in my head for the rest of the day on Sunday. While I’m getting ready for work on Monday morning, I usually have the post almost written in my head. So when I sit down to write, things go pretty smoothly. Sometimes I get interrupted and need to address another task. This takes me away from what I am writing.

That’s what happened this morning. A coworker came in, and I needed to check something on Facebook for her. While on Facebook, I noticed a post at the top of my feed. The post was a link to a blog post, and the person sharing the post commented that the post related to Tom’s sermon yesterday. I was curious so I clicked on it. I proceeded to read a beautiful story about two women. When I got to the end of the story, I realized it was actually a poem, “Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal,” by Naomi Shihab Nye. You can read it here. 

I realized that my plan for today’s post was no longer necessary.

Everything I wanted to write is captured in this poem. I don’t know much about the author but I can understand the world that she describes and the world in which she’d like to live—a world where we take the time to notice each other and care for one another.

I hope you’ll read this poem. I know sometimes when I’m reading something and there is a link, I don’t click on it because it feels like a waste of my time. I can promise you that this will not be a waste of your time. Here it is again in case you don’t want to scroll back up.

May we all be like the woman in the airport.

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Lift Your Light by Yoon Nam

Posted on May 3, 2013 by florisumcblog

The month of May is at our door step. It’s hard to believe how fast time passes.

I am very excited in the month of May to “Pray in May.”  Some people compare prayer to breathing.  I understand that view of “breathing” but I think that even though we can’t survive without breathing, we can live without prayers.  I think that living without prayers as Christians is like being alive without deep breathing. We often live without enough deep breathing. I notice when I am physically or emotionally involved,  I rarely take a deep breath. So often I feel choked at those moments. That is why we give ourselves the intentional instruction, “breathe in and breathe out” in those circumstances. I think that it is very similar to our prayer lives. When we face difficult situations, we might feel an urgent need of prayers due to a similar choking feeling. Unfortunately, we sometimes get spiritually dulled and don’t always see our need to pray.

I learned to pray through my mom who goes to a dawn prayer service in her neighborhood church each morning at 4:30. Whether or not there are urgent things to pray about, she still goes every morning. At times when I was in elementary school, I started going with her.  I sat and waited for a while until she finished her prayers. I often wondered how she could have so much to pray about. She always said, “don’t  forget that a time of suffering is a time of the best blessing because you will pray more and get closer to the Lord. The difficult situation is a tool to get closer to God. So, be thankful and ready to be blessed by the prayer time.”  I have been trying to follow her steps and attend dawn prayer services. It has been a true blessing to me, especially living in this area. Most Korean churches have the services each morning at 5:30. I still stumble and fall even though I pray. However, the prayers help me to see who holds me tightly.

We will have a joyful musical selection for worship services in May.  We will focus on “evangelism” this month with up-beat praising songs. For this Sunday at 11:00 AM, the Sanctuary Choir will share the song, “Lift Your Light,” as an offertory with brass ensemble and drums. We pray that our spirits will be revived with prayers and that we can share the Gospel with others who need to hear it.

 

 

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eNote from Rev. Tom Berlin – May 2, 2013

Posted on May 2, 2013 by florisumc
Dear Floris Family, 

Many years ago, when Floris UMC was located in its first facility, the church made a decision to hire a Children’s Ministry Director. In some ways the decision was an obvious one. As dairy farms turned into neighborhoods, more and more families with young children were coming to Floris. The church was not large, and not accustomed to having staff. This decision was a moment when a priority was established in the life of the congregation to share Christ with children and to make church something they would enjoy attending. The impact of that decision, made almost 20 years ago, is still with us today and a key reason for our vitality. Below you will find ways that you can bless children in our church and community. Please pray about how you might offer your time and talent to continue to bless the next generation with the love and joy of Christ.

Vacation Bible School
If you like to see kids grow in their faith, we encourage you to volunteer at one of our VBS Summer Camps. You can choose the age group you prefer: preschool and elementary both have volunteer openings. This is a great way to teach kids lessons from the Bible and songs they will remember their whole lives. Visit the VBS page on our website or contact Melissa Ciavarella.

Camp Hutchison
Camp Hutchison helps kids at Hutchison Elementary improve their math and reading skills, enjoy two nutritious meals daily and have a great time while learning. Camp Hutchison runs from July 8 to August 2. During this four-week enrichment camp you can help children make progress toward learning goals they have not yet accomplished. We are looking for instructors and counselors (one to four weeks of service), as well as people to help with meals and fun activities (a few hours or a few days). Visit the Camp Hutchison page on our website to submit an application. If you have any questions, please contact Jake McGlothin.

Prayer
We had our first meeting about upcoming plans to challenge the congregation to “Pray in May” to discern God’s will for our church and its future. I will share that challenge with you next week. Today is the National Day of Prayer. Take time to pray for our nation and its leaders, as well as those in leadership in other places in our society.

Rebuilding Together
On Saturday a team of 44 people from Floris worked to renovate the home of a couple in our community as part of Rebuilding Together. Thank you to all of those who installed beautiful landscaping, repaired windows, installed smoke detectors, renovated a bathroom, painted and much more. The Floris team was one of more than 40 groups that helped neighbors in need in Fairfax and Arlington Counties. It is such a blessing to be a part of a church working actively in our community to help others.

Parking Shuttles
We will be offering parking shuttles every Sunday through Mother’s Day. Please park at the Network Solutions/XO Communications lot and take the Floris Shuttle so that guests and first time visitors can find a parking spot easily Sunday morning.

This Week in Worship
As Christians we sometimes sense an opportunity to share our faith in Christ with another person, but we often stop short because we feel unprepared. I hope you join us Sunday as we begin a new sermon series designed to equip us for conversations that are life-changing but not alienating. Our new sermon series, Go!, will offer some basic answers to questions about how to communicate the good news of our faith. If you want to get past Go, join us Sunday.  Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38.

In Christ,
-Tom

 

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