Poetry - 2023

 The following is a list of poetry from my blog in 2023.  Its only here for record keeping and to provide a landing place for the link to  the left.

• Never Ending Joy (Isaiah 35:1-10)
• Like a Frightened Bird (Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16)
• A Litany with Psalm 16
• Merciful God (Psalm 145: 8-14)
• Our Home  (Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17)

Goal Review 2023

 Goal Review for 2023

I set a few goals at the beginning of the year.  I thought I would take a post to review (some of) them.  

1. Complete at least two continuing (on-line, mainly) education classes.  I finished four.  
2. Make sure at least 30% of my reading is "new to me" books.  I do like to re-read, and that's fine with me, but I also want to make sure I read some things that are "new to me."  This is kind of an estimate, because I predict I will finish two additional books this year.  If I do, I will have read 50 books, 34 of which were new to me.  That's 68%.
3. Read four "spiritual development" books.  I predict I will complete 14 by the end of the year.
4. Re-establish my two blogs.  I have been posting on a regular basis on this blog since January 2 - two posts per week plus one image post.  I didn't get started on my other blog as soon (to say the least) but I did post in November and December.

Women and Early Mission Work

 Many early missionary societies were led by Methodist women, partly due to the MEC's policy of an exclusively male clergy. These societies were precursors to today's United Women in Faith and the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. Discuss these themes, and how women have embodied the Wesleyan emphasis on ministry to the poor, sick, and incarcerated. 

https://www.umc.org/en/content/timeline-of-women-in-methodism

 

The prohibition against women as preaches goes back to the early Methodist movement. Wesley himself would not permit (most) women to preach, although he did authorize Sarah Mallet to preach. In 1957, the United Brethren General Conference passed a resolution that no woman should be allowed to preach.  In 1866, Helenor Davisson was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Protestant Church, making her the first ordained woman in the tradition.  Even though Anna Howard Shaw earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology, she is refused ordinated by the Methodist Episcopal General Conference in 1880.  She joined the Methodist Protestant Church and is ordained.  In 1984, the church rules her ordination out of order.  In 1888, five women were elected as lay delegates to the Methodist Episcopal General Conference; later, male reserves replaced them.  In the same year, the position of deaconess is established for women – women can serve in any capacity that does not require clergy rites – in ministries of love, justice, and service. 

 

Even though women could often not pursue a call to preaching, they were still experiencing the transformed life that Methodism offered.  They heard their calls, and social justice ministry was an outlet opened to them.  Women served as missionaries – sometimes as a spouse, and sometimes as a single person.

 

https://uwfaith.org/who-we-are/our-history/

 

The United Women in Faith is a social justice organization that was founded out of the need to be in service to the world.

 

The United Women in faith website states “In 1869, Clementina Butler and Lois Parker, wives of missionaries to India, made a plea to a group of eight women in Boston about the spiritual and physical needs of poor women in India. They could not be treated by male doctors. Schooling for girls was almost non-existent. Help was desperately needed.”  This was the beginning of what has become the United Women in Faith.  They say they have a legacy of “showing up and getting things done.” This has been my experience with United Women of Faith as well.

 

Other timeline events include that Sojourner Truth, an emancipated slave, co-founded Kingston Methodist Church in New York State. She became involved in the abolitionist movement.  Sophronia Farrington, the first single missionary, arrived in Liberia in 1834.  In 1869, Isabella Thoburn and Clara Sawn leave for India.  Thorburn started a college, and Swain began medical work.

Let's Have a Conversation

 

The following is a devotion I wrote for our church's Advent Devotional ministry.  It's a little different than usual.

Let’s have a conversation.

Please read Luke 2:8-20

As I write this, I wonder where you are as you are reading it.  Are you sitting near your Christmas tree amid the discarded paper from gifts? Or is it quiet at your house, and you sit in your living room, a little bit lonely? Or maybe you are reading this on your phone, late on Christmas Eve (because the devotionals arrive in people’s mailboxes at 10:00 p.m. the night before).  Are you one of those people who read the devotion before looking at the “signature” and you are trying to guess who I am? Did you skip the scripture reading because you decided you’ve read it before and don’t need to read it again? I do that sometimes; don’t tell anyone.  

Whoever you are, wherever you are, whenever it is, let’s have a conversation.  You grab the beverage of your choice, and I’ll get mine, and we’ll talk. Ready?

First, go back and read the scripture.  I’ll wait.  

What did you notice about it?  For me, the verse that spoke the loudest today was verse 20: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”  First, the shepherds left their fields, followed the angel’s instructions, saw the child, and then – then they went and told everybody.  Tis was not the quiet pondering of Mary.  This is glory and praise!

Have you had your heart “strangely warmed?” Was there a moment that felt like the fire of God in your life? Or the quiet presence of the holy? Have you had an experience of the presence of God that was real and important to you?  Why do you believe?  

Sometimes those experiences are gigantic and overwhelming, like seeing the savior in a manger.  Sometimes they are the quiet certainty that God exists and loves you.  They can be dramatic like trumpets or subtle like feathers landing on your heart.  What has your experience been like?

Have you had a conversation with someone about it? Have you gathered your favorite beverage and taken a moment to share the light of God with someone else?  We celebrate the birth of Christ today, and we remember that Christ came into the world.  Christ has come into the world, but also into your life.  Will you glorify and praise God? Will you share the grace of God with a friend?  Will you have a conversation and bring light into this dark world?

Kim Matthews
(Did you guess it was me?)

Perspectives: San Antonio Mural

 

Disagreement

Do you find any social matters on which all Christians should agree? Where is disagreement permissible? 

In his sermon Catholic Spirit, John Wesley wrote, “Though we can’t think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”  In a memorial sermon for George Whitfield, with whom he often passionately disagreed, Wesley wrote, ““There are many doctrines of a less essential nature. ... In these, we may think and let think; we may 'agree to disagree.' But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials. …”  So what are the essentials regarding social matters? I imagine on this we would disagree!  It seems to me that if we are earnestly trying to put love into action regarding a social matter, than if we come to a different conclusion, on many matters this is permissible disagreement. Personally, the matters I think Christians should agree center around the value of each person in the eyes of God; we should stand united against what is the exploitation of another – racism, slavery (and its modern versions), abuse, and that which harms the dignity of another. 

Social Creed Then and Now

The Methodist Social Creed was first written in 1908 and has been modified since. Following the comparison handout, discuss:

• How are the iterations similar? Different?  They are similar in that they are expressions of Wesleyan Theology and social praxis.  The 1908 version was a response to the difficult and dangerous employment conditions at the time.  It is limited to speaking about that.  I also think the attitude of the creed seems male-centric. The 2008 version is much more expansive, reaching beyond the 1908 Creed.  The 2008 version also contains statements of faith.
• What does each document say about the Methodist church in their respective times? How are the churches in those eras different?  The church of 1908 was only 50 years from the Civil War. Its context included a second or third generation of freed African Americans facing the challenges of racism, joblessness, and homelessness.  Immigration is a challenge as those from other countries arrive in the United States and are seeking employment. There are no safe labor laws or any attention paid to the environment. It is a male-centric society.  The church of 2008 was encountering not only employment  fairness issues, but also an awareness of the fragility of the environment, the awareness of a need of inclusiveness, and a global economy. The society has survived two world wars and other conflicts.  It was in a consumeristic economy, and was truly a global church.
• Does Methodism need a Social Creed?  Because of Wesley’s emphasis on not only personal but social holiness and the inseparable connection between the two, I think it does need a statement of a social creed.
• What role, if any in your estimation, does such a creed help a church "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?"  A creed that states our common beliefs regarding the world helps us, as United Methodists to understand our place in the world and to understand how we can play a role in social praxis.  It helps us to be better disciples, and to have a direction to work to change the world.  Also, as a statement to those outside of the church, it can help to shape an understanding of who we are – an invitation to others to discipleship.

Perspectives: Crooked Building

 Deliberately designed wonkiness

What is God's Command?

Inspired by Leviticus 1-2, 15-18

The Lord spoke to Moses and said:

The Lord speaks to us, and says:

You shall be holy, set apart,

For I am holy, and I have consecrated you.

You shall be fair in your judgements,

You shall not show favoritism to the poor,

(I don't have to worry about that, do I?,

for your hand can be oppressive).

You shall not defer to the great.

(Did you hear me?)

With justice you shall judge your  neighbor.

You shall not lie.

You shall not spread falseness.

You shall not gaslight.

You shall not tell fake news.

(Are their other ways I can say it?)

You shall not spread slander about your neighbors,

(or about anyone - they are all your neighbors)

And you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbors.

(ARE YOU LISTENING?)

You shall not hate anyone.

No, not even that person,

You can offer gentle accountability,

but not hate.

What touches one of you,

touches all of you.

You shall not seek retribution or vengeance.

You shall not bear a grudge.

(Stop. Just stop.  I see you).

You shall love your neighbor.

You shall forgive.

Do you hear me?

Forgive.

Love.

A Prayer

 A Prayer inspired by Psalm 27

Please spend a moment in prayer.

In you, O God, we place our trust.  Please keep us in your care and in your presence.  At times the world feels like it is full of enemies; there are times when it feels like the world schemes against us.  We trust in you, O God.

Draw us close and open our eyes to your nature.  Show us which way to go.  Lead us in your truth.  Teach us your ways.  In, O God, is our salvation. 

Every day, when we open our eyes and when we fall asleep, remind us of who you are.  Help us to not forget your love and compassion.  May others be reminded of who you are by who we are.

We confess we have not loved you.  We have not followed you. Forgive us and erase our sins.  See us with your eyes of love and cover us with goodness.  In you we place our trust.  

Amen.

Perspective: Color Ceiling

 

Could we dare dream of this?

Could we dare dream of this?

Darkness

Cold, silent loneliness.

We walk in darkness.

Above us, the stars are silent

In their wandering across the sky.

Unmindful of us.

The streets are dark,

With no echo of hope.

Of what do we dream?

What impossible thought walks with us?

We walk in a land of deep darkness

And we can barely believe our eyes

We are startled by the light,

Shining onto us.

Shining into us.

Shining through us.

In a small forgotten village

Among a people never forgotten by their God

Was born a savior.

A baby.

A child of man born to save the children of God.

How can it be?

Could we dare to dream of this?

We sleep, while angels watch

We doubt, while heavenly hosts praise the glory of the birth.

Even the stars sing of this holy appearance of hope.

We dare not hope,

And yet we pray,

That our sin would be removed.

That light would enter into our lives

As the baby was born into a stable.

For a child is born

Unto us, a people in darkness.

His son is given to us.

How can it be?

Could we ever dream of this?

We dare not speak his name,

And yet it whispers in our hearts,

And explodes from our mouths.

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace.

Tiny, tiny baby.

Savior of the world.

The light shines.

Born of Mary,

Born of God.

And with him peace is born

Peace beyond our understanding

Peace.

On his shoulders rides

Justice and righteousness

And we are brought into eternal light

By his love.

Could we ever have dreamed it?

Could we ever have imagined such a hope?

Come to us,

Abide with us

Our Lord, Emmanuel

Inspired by Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and O Little Town of Bethlehem. 

Preparation

Hear these words from Isaiah 40:1-5:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Many years ago, I was standing in the hallway of the building where I worked - this was way before the Foundation; I was working in medical research at the time. I was standing in the hallway talking to a couple of co-workers. I don't know how we ventured into the topic of church, but one of the women I was speaking with said she had grown up as a Presbyterian, but that she didn't go to church anymore. Her reason for not going to church was that she needed to be "better" before she went back. Church was only for "good" people, and she needed to get back to being "good" before she went back to church.

I don't remember what I said to her; I hope it was something that helped her to see that church wasn't for the "good" people - it was for all people. I don't imagine anything I said convinced her to go back because she didn't. We were only co-workers - not close friends, so I don't know if there was anything I could have said to her that would have changed her mind, but I still regret my lack of helpful response.

In the passage from Isaiah, we hear a call to prepare the way for the Lord. To make a straight path for God to return. I wonder if this means helping people to remove the obstacles that stand between them (or us) and God. How do we do that? How could I have done that for my co-worker?

In Mark 1, we hear about John the Baptist, who had figured out how to clear the path for God. Verses 1-5:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

It might be helpful to look at John and to see how he approached being a messenger. Three things strike me in this passage and in the verses beyond it:

1. John didn't live by societal norms. He dressed in camel's hair and ate locusts; maybe that was regular sportwear at the time, but I doubt it. It's OK to be different than everyone else.
2. John appeared in the wilderness - and this is where the people who needed what he had to offer came to find him. I don't know why the wilderness is important in this passage, but it seems it is important to be where the people are or where they will come to find you.
3. John said, "The one who is more powerful that I is coming after me: I am not worthy to stoop down and until the thong of his sandals." John realized he was not God; we need to realize that, too, and to approach our ministry with humility.

We are not God, but we are God's messengers, and I pray we are able to clear the path for others to reach God and for God to reach those in need.  

Perspective: Lights on or off?

This is two images of the same light fixture.  I thought it was interesting that in the top image, it looks like some of the lights are off.  In truth, all of the lights are on - it was just some kind of weirdness in the first picture that created the effect.