Word on the Street

As we approach the time of New Beginnings at Grace Avenue I have been asked frequently about both the schedule and the description of the various services. The staff has been working diligently to prepare for this exciting new time at our church. One of the great challenges, however has been to create a description that does not read like a book. I want descriptions that are simple and direct.
There is no way to describe these new experiences 100% so we are attempting to describe the essence of each worship service with room for growth, change and most importantly, the Holy Spirit.

As you read these descriptions I would love to be in dialogue with you. We are planning some Q & A times both in person and online. Be watching for these events or email me at billy@graceavenue.org. remember we move into the new sanctuary on Jan 5th & 6th with the existing schedule. On January 26th & 27th we will open the renovated Worship Center and begin the new six worship service schedule.

Here is a list and brief description of what you can expect beginning January 26th:

Contemporary Worship Expressions - In the Renovated Worship Center

Saturday 5:30 pm, Sabbath Service
A come-as you-are Sunday alternative experience
FOCUS: In a busy world we honor God by having sacred time for worship and reclaimed time for rest and family.

Sunday 9:30 am, Celebration Service
A joyful praise experience
FOCUS: Music and message that is uplifting, encouraging and relevant.

Sunday 11:00 am, Threshold Service
A postmodern community experience
FOCUS: Entering into worship that integrates gathering, growing, going and giving in the life of faith

Traditional Worship Expressions - In the New Sanctuary

Sunday 8:30 am, Communion Service
An early morning sacrament-centered experience
FOCUS: Built around the United Methodist service of Holy Communion every week.

Sunday 9:30 am, Foundation Service
A family oriented experience
FOCUS: Families engage and participate in worship together.

Sunday 11:00 am, Covenant Service
A time-honored experience
FOCUS: Wesleyan theology presented through liturgy, ritual, hymns and choral singing

Word on the Street

You have access to Grace Avenue in two new ways right at your fingertips and you may not even realize it. One of the great challenges for a church like ours is to make the great content of Grace Avenue accessible, mobile and able to keep up with people on the go. These new tools are no longer dreams. They are ready and available for download today.

The first is a wonderful new recording project just in time for the season. It is called "Christmas on Grace Avenue" and it features Laurie Hanson Roberts, The Grace Avenue Band and the Grace Avenue Adult Choir. They perform traditional Christmas songs as well as music that unique to Grace Avenue. One of the songs is a beautiful original piece entitled: "Speak" composed and arranged by Laurie and Doug Cuny.

When the project was in the production phase a decision was made to make it available in such a way that the largest number of people could enjoy it. "Christmas on Grace Avenue" is available on iTunes and Android Market. You can find it by searching for "Grace Avenue Band". Or you can CLICK HERE to purchase through our website. It is a great way to get in the spirit of the season.

Also now available is the Grace Avenue app. It is available for your smartphone or tablet device. It has the most recent sermons, information, and links to everything Grace Avenue. Traveling and want to see and hear a recent sermon? Go to your Grace Avenue app. Need to sign up for an upcoming Grace Avenue event? Go to your Grace Avenue app. Forget your offering last week and want to make a gift online? Go to your Grace Avenue app. The app is free and can be downloaded at the in the Apple App Store or Android Market. Simply search "Grace Avenue".

I want to thank Clint Allen and our Communications Department for the great way in which they are making Grace Avenue; "Not a location, but a way of life."

 

Word on the Street

Does the current representation of Christmas really work for us anymore? Retailers push Christmas earlier in the calendar every year. We have to be guarded about what we are celebrating, the greetings we give, the gifts we share; even the words we use are in dispute. Add to this the raw emotions of unrealistic expectations, unrealized wishes and uncertain prospects and it feels like the Christmas Machine we have created is displaying a sign which reads "Out of Order".

In the spirit of the lectionary, Advent begins a new Gospel cycle with a focus on the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 1:3 the Gospel writer expresses his desire to write an "orderly account" of Jesus' birth, ministry, death and resurrection. His "orderly account" is both a matter of sequence and priority. It is about both chronos and kairos time. In other words, Advent is a time to get things back in their proper order and remember that God's plan is much more fulfilling than ours.

Join us for Worship this week as we begins our sermon series: "Christmas Out of Order."

Word on the Street

Thanksgiving may be our best holiday when it comes to simply being together with others. The great feast itself is normally accompanied by pre-feast appetizers and after-feast second helpings and leftovers. In reality the food is simply garnish for the greater experience of fellowship with family and friends.

The early Christians understood the concept of simply being together as loved ones. They called it Koinonia. We translate the word "fellowship". Fellowship is another Godly pathway to contentment. Instead of being pursued by happiness, we can choose the gracious gift of being together.

Robert Kriegel is the author of the book; If IT Ain't Broke...Break IT! In it he writes:

"What often goes missing in the bumper-sticker, The One Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins philosophy of life are considerations of the cost of consumption. Not just the initial down-payment costs, but the subsequent emotional, family and psychological costs.

The greatest irony in the pursuit of the most toys is that it inevitably requires the most time to get them, leaving the least time to use them. Pollster Lou Harris has found that people have an average 32 percent less leisure time than they did a decade ago.

With there being only so many hours in the day, something has to give. Consequently, the dream car has been parked so long it's used more air in the tires than gas in the tank. The country house for weekend getaways may as well be in another country. The two-week ski trip to Europe has been delayed for the third winter. And the treasured wooden skiff hasn't touched anything wet in eight months. Blessed are the toys for they shall inherit the...dust!"

I pray your Thanksgiving is a feast of great fellowship.

Word on the Street

The election is finally over. Clearly the country is decisively split. In spite of our differences, however God is still God and God is still good. The sun still came up on Wednesday regardless of how you or anyone else voted on Tuesday. Now is not the time for victorious gloating or sour grape bitterness. I am astounded at some of the unholy and unhelpful reactions I have read on social media. Instead we would do well to heed the time honored words of our Methodist Founder John Wesley who in 1774 said:

"I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side."

 

The Apostle Paul wrote: "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (II Corinthians 5: 16-20)

 

How are you functioning as Christ's Ambassador this week?

 

Word on the Street

One of my favorite avocations is photography. I especially enjoy taking pictures at church events. This last Sunday night I had a great time being on the other side of the lens during our Annual Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treating event.

One of my problems, however, is that I get these great pictures but I am never sure exactly how to share them with a wider audience. Our wonderful Communications Staff has come up with a solution that we would like to try:

CLICK HERE to go to the on-line photo album from the Fall Festival. Password for the private album is "fallfest2012".

There you will find all the pictures that I took at the Fall Festival. In following this procedure we are asking a couple of things from you in order to respect everyone's participation.

1. If you do not want a picture of you or one of your family members to appear on the site. Please email us at Kime@graceavenue.org and we will take it down immediately.
2. We ask that you share via download, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. only those pictures that are of you or your family OR you have received approval from someone else to share.

Following these simple steps we believe we can share these fun photos with our church family. I had a great time taking them. I hope you have a great time viewing them. There are certainly a great indication of the joy we share as a church family.

Word on the Street

This past weekend I attended three very different worship experiences. Most weekends I attend four unique worship services at Grace Avenue but this was different in that I did not lead at any of the services I attended. I came away renewed by each experience.

The first worship service was Saturday evening in Ennis, TX. It was the wedding of our Co-Youth Minister Christopher Vaughan and his beautiful bride Caitlin. Often we forget that a marriage ceremony, in the Christian context, is first of all a service of worship. Christopher and Caitlin did not forget. Instead they chose to honor God and begin their life together with prayer and praise. Dr. Jim Moore did a beautiful job of leading the service and the most touching part for me came when we all walked to the front of the sanctuary and were served Holy Communion by the bride and groom.

Sunday morning at 9:09 am (that is the starting time, not the time I arrived just in case you were wondering) I attended a new worship experience at St. Andrew UMC called The Well. It too was prayer and praise but with an ultra contemporary style. Those who led the worship were all in their 20's and their passion for their faith in Jesus was extremely evident. Although different from what I am accustomed to, I felt very much welcomed and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Rev. Arthur Jones preached a terrific sermon called "Storage Wars: the battle for our hearts" in which he spoke about the passage from Matthew 6:21 which says "where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Yes friends, even the ultra contemporary talk about stewardship and the proper uses of God's resources including money in church. I was blessed by the whole experience.

By 11:00 am I was back home; at Grace Avenue. Here I was blessed to be involved in the baptism of an eight month old child. Then I was able to sit where you sit, sing where you sing and pray where you pray. It was an amazing experience. Joe Stobaugh's sermon from Job about the presence and wisdom of God brought it all together for me.

It reminded me that every week, actually every day, God is worshipped in a variety of styles, languages and places. We would do well to remember that the Lord's Prayer does not begin with the words: "My Father" but rather, "Our Father". I thank God that we can express our love for God in so many ways.

 

Where and how will you be expressing your love for God this week?

Word on the Street

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could trade places with someone else? It is easy sometimes to look out on the lives of others and declare: "Well sure I could do what they do if I had what they have." With such beliefs, envy and jealously soon creep into our lives. We become bitter and believe that the inequity of life is some kind of cosmic cruelty toward us.

At other times we count our blessings on the troubles of others. We say; "Life is not all I want it to be but at least I'm not having the problems of some others I know." With this approach we often become fatalistic. We wonder when will it be our turn to experience misery and suffering.

 

The bottom line is that we cannot live someone else's life. This is why Jesus taught us not to judge others (Matthew 7: 1-5) and to "Seek first the Kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33). We must be faithful to the course that God has charted for us.

 

When Albert Einstein was making the rounds of the speaker's circuit, he usually found himself eagerly longing to get back to his laboratory work. One night, while driving to yet another dinner, Einstein mentioned to his chauffeur (a man who somewhat resembled Einstein in looks and manner) that he was tired of speechmaking.

"I have an idea, boss," his chauffeur said. "I've heard you give this speech so many times, I'll bet I could give it for you."

Einstein laughed loudly and said, "Why not? Let's do it!"

When they arrived at the dinner, Einstein donned the chauffeur's cap and jacket and sat in the back of the room. The chauffeur gave a beautiful rendition of Einstein's speech and even answered a few questions expertly.

Then a supremely pompous professor asked an extremely esoteric question about antimatter formation, digressing here and there to let everyone in the audience know that he was nobody's fool.

Without missing a beat, the chauffeur fixed the professor with a steely stare and said, "Sir, the answer to that question is so simple that I will let my chauffeur, who is sitting in the back, answer it for me."

Who's life are you trying to live this week?

Word on the Street

For the past several weeks we have been very excited to see the progress on the outside of the new building. It is beautiful outside and we are thrilled with the way it looks when people drive by or onto the property. You may, however, be wondering about how things are progressing on the inside. This weekend at church you will have an opportunity to see firsthand the great progress that is being made on the inside of the new building.

The building committee of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church will be hosting tours of the inside of the new building this weekend. Tours will be Saturday night before and after the 5:30pm service and Sunday morning continuously from 8:15am-12:30pm. The tours will be guided by members of the building committee. Please check in for your tour in the learning center lobby. Each tour should last around 15-20 minutes.

While on your tour, you will have opportunities to see the various rooms in the new building, ask questions about the new building and continue to see opportunities of furnishings that the new building will need. If you have not yet made your from the heart commitment, brochures and commitment forms will be available. Please be reminded that on many of our furnishings, we have several weeks of lead time for ordering those items, therefore, the sooner we can get commitments for our furnishings, the sooner they can be ordered.

I want to thank the building committee for their hard work on this great project and for volunteering to lead these tours. What you see on the outside is just a glimpse of how great everything is and how wonderful it is on the inside. Join us for guided tours of the new building this weekend!

Word on the Street

Last week in worship we continued to talk about The Divine Check Up. Proverbs 3 offered us a "prescription" for spiritual health. The prescription included: Trust God, Honor God and Keep the commandments.

We were reminded that trusting, or leaning on God is not a crutch, but instead is the thing that gives us true freedom and wholeness.

Dave Nash offers Seven Beatitudes of a Growing Faith. They are:

Blessed are those who have daily dialogue with God.
Their faces will shine like the sea.
Blessed are those who depend upon the Lord.
They shall throw away their crutches.
Blessed are those whose faith moves them to compassion.
They will warm our hearts and teach us to love ourselves.
Blessed are those who persevere.
Their courage will give us hope; their patience will calm our fears.
Blessed are those who trust in the living God.
Their joy in worship will light our path.
Blessed are those whose love of the church reveals deep faith.
They shall see the living God.
Blessed are those whose faith erupts in mission.
Their witness will show us the power of God.

Have you filled the prescription yet?

Word on the Street

Wisdom is the application of knowledge. In some respects wisdom comes with work. Wisdom is not a magic potion or something you buy off a shelf. It is a desirable commodity but it is not a pre-packaged instant mix product.
Migan McKenna tells this great parable about the wise process of getting the things we desire.
"Sometimes, good advertising is a matter of planting good seeds, as did the woman who wanted peace in the world and peace in her heart, but was very frustrated. The world seemed to be falling apart. She would read the papers and get depressed.
One day she decided to go shopping, and she went into a mall and picked a store at random. She walked in and was surprised to see Jesus behind the counter. She knew it was Jesus because he looked just like the pictures she'd seen on holy cards and devotional pictures. She finally got up her nerve and asked, Excuse me, are you Jesus?

I am.

Do you work here?

No, I own the store.

Oh, what do you sell here?

Just about everything, Jesus said. Feel free to walk up and down the aisles, make a list, see what it is you want and then come back and we'll see what we can do for you.

She did just that, walked up and down the aisles. There was peace on earth, no more war, no hunger or poverty, peace in families, no more drugs, harmony, clean air, careful use of resources. She wrote furiously. By the time she got back to the counter, she had a long list. Jesus took the list, skimmed through it, looked up at her and smiled. No problem. And then he bent down behind the counter and picked out all sorts of things, stood up and laid out the packets. She asked, What are these?

Seed packets, Jesus said. This is a catalog store.

She said, You mean I don't get the finished product?

No, this is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks like, and I give you the seeds. You plant the seeds. You go home and nurture them and help them to grow and someone else reaps the benefits."

What are you doing with the seed packets Jesus is offering you?

Word on the Street

The signs of growth are everywhere at Grace Avenue. Our beautiful new building is a constant reminder that things are changing. In the last four weeks we have received 51 new members to our congregation. At our last Discipleship Council meeting it was confirmed that we would move from four to six worship services in 2013 once the new building is finished and the current Worship Center is renovated. New Bible studies and increased mission opportunities are springing up everywhere and right around the corner our Pumpkins on the Prairie will celebrate its 10^th anniversary.

The companion to this kind of growth is also the addition of new staff members. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee of our church has been working for almost a year to prepare for these important new additions. I would like you to help me in welcoming these newest staff members to Grace Avenue UMC.

Bill Ball is joining our staff as the Adult Minister. Bill is currently a first year seminary student at Perkins School of Theology and will be working on our staff part-time. He has experience in a variety of great churches including Tarrytown UMC in Austin, Highland Park UMC in Dallas and Suncreek UMC in Allen. Bill is a graduate of Centenary College and has a masters from SMU. Bill has a son who is in the third grade. Bill will be working to coordinate aspects of our GROW ministries as they relate to adults. This includes Adult Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, small groups and other adult education opportunities. Bill started at Grace Avenue September 4.

The Rev. Joe Stobaugh is joining the Grace Avenue staff as the Minister of Worship and Arts. Joe is a graduate of University of North Texas and Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church and is currently serving at Argyle UMC. Joe is married to Sarah Stobaugh and has two children who are in PreK and 2^nd grade. Joe will be working to design and oversee the six worship services that I mentioned above. He will be working with a variety of groups and ensembles including vocal groups, instrumental groups and worship implementation groups. Joe will begin working at Grace Avenue on October 8.

I am asking you to do two very important things as these changes occur: 

1. Please pray for our new staff members and welcome them in the wonderful spirit of Grace Avenue.
2. Please take time to say thank you to our current staff who continue to do a fantastic job of helping us fulfill our mission to "make disciples and make a difference through Jesus Christ." They continue to lead us as we move into the future of Grace Avenue.

As we move into this new era of the church, the SPRC will continue to examine and fulfill future staffing needs. I am grateful for these wonderful new additions, but most importantly to be part of such a great church.

Word on the Street

This weekend we begin a new message series based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs is considered Wisdom Literature in scripture. This creates within me the question: "What is wisdom? And how do we acquire it?"

The philosopher Socrates once said: "Wisdom begins in wonder."

Hundreds of years later Ralph Waldo Emerson conjectured: "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."
 

Proverbs 9:10 declares that, "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

I've come to believe that we cannot experience true spiritual health without wisdom. Maybe it is time for a check-up. That is what we will be about the next 4 weekends at Grace Avenue; "The Divine Check-Up." Plan to join us as we take and intriguing look at the book of Proverbs.

Are you ready to get healthy?

 

Word on the Street

On a Labor Day weekend it is worth asking: "What is my vocation?" The question is not; "What is your occupation or what do you do for a living?" When God created the first human beings, He gave them a job(Genesis 3:15). It was a calling with purpose. Their disobedience, fear and sin turned it into toil. There is a great story worth considering on this Labor Day weekend.

 

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart.

It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," the man said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee, and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. That'll show him."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger, and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide. His jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge - a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers met at the middle of the bridge, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have so many more bridges to build."

 

We are called to work for a bridge-building carpenter from Nazareth. Is your labor a calling or a toil?

Word on the Street

Our friend and brother Tom Graves, who served at Grace Avenue 2007-2009, passed away on Wednesday. His passing, like his life, was peaceful and gentle. His daughter Lauren and close friend Mike were at his side along with the music therapist who was singing a collection of his favorite hymns. He was joyful, faithful and worshipful to the end. It is easy to imagine that his wonderful wife Linda who passed away in 2001, was there as one of the first to greet him as he arrived to his eternal home.

I'm sentimental about Tom. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for him. That's probably because he was never anything but gracious with me from the first time he met me as a freshmen in college to the last time I visited with him a week ago. Last weekend in church we talked about Joseph who the early church renamed Barnabas (Acts 4) because he was an "encourager". Tom Graves was one of the most important Barnabas' in my life.

Late this week I found myself being drawn back to Tom's writings. He was a great author and I, like many of you, are blessed to have the collection of his four published books. In the first chapter of his book; From Sunday Conversations, he talks about his calling into ministry. Tom writes: "The driving force inside my journey as an Ordained United Methodist Minister is the heartfelt conviction that ministry is a privilege, a gift of grace, and the overwhelming sense of gratitude I feel because I have been, and still am, given this privilege."

Tom is not just speaking of ordained ministry. He is speaking about all ministry; the ministry of all believers that is mentioned in II Peter 2: 9-10. Ministry (Gathering, Growing, Going and Giving in the name of Christ) is a privilege. This is Tom's legacy. Now it is our calling.

 

Word on the Street

For thirteen years Grace Avenue has used the motto: "Not a location, but a Way of Life." In other words Christian faith is a perspective. It is a state of mind. It is a matter of the heart.

This story I think illustrates our motto well:

Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was traveling around the world. In Korea one day, they saw, in a field by the side of the road, a boy pulling a rude plow, while an old man held the plow handles and directed it. The lawyer was amused, and took a snapshot of the scene.

"That's a curious picture! I suppose they are very poor," he said to the missionary, who was an interpreter and guide to the party.

"Yes," was the reply. "That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money; so they sold their only ox and gave their money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves."

The lawyer and the businessman by his side were silent for some moments. Then the businessman said, "That must have been a real sacrifice."

"They did not call it that," said the missionary. "They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."

 Is the giving of your time and resources to God really a sacrifice or a blessing?

Word on the Street

Happy Birthday Grace Avenue! Next Wednesday August 15 our church turns 13. We've hit our teen years and like any adolescent we are just beginning to move into our most important growing years. Certainly we know 13 can be a confusing time but it is also a time to develop and mature. In the next few weeks we will celebrate the opportunities and the challenges of being 13.

1. At 13 we like to party. That is why this year we are celebrating Grace Avenue's birthday for three weekends instead of just one; August 11 &12, August 18 & 19 and August 25 & 26. Part of the fun begins this Sunday night with Grace Avenue's first ever Talent Show and Spaghetti Dinner. It is still not too late to sign up.
2. At 13 we often have an identity crisis. It is no different with churches. I have people tell me all the time they don't recognize many of the people at our church now, so for the next three weeks we are going to place an emphasis on getting to know one another a little better. In addition I will be preaching a message series about some people in the Bible you may not recognize. The series is called: "Someone I'd Like You to Meet" based on stories from Acts 10, 11 & 12.
3. At 13 we like gifts. Grace Avenue has had a great start with the "From the Heart" furnishings campaign and now would be a great time to give the church a birthday present. If you have not made a "From the Heart" gift, now is the perfect time. If you have purchased an item, I want to thank you. Big gifts, little gifts all count in this important effort and it is a great way to remember or honor someone you love.
4. At 13 we know how important it is to get ready for school. That important transition time is almost here, for everyone. We know the kids will be in class; will you? We have a great Autumn line up of Grace Avenue GROW classes beginning with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University that starts Wednesday August 29. The rest of the lineup will begin the two weeks following Labor Day. Also on August 25 & 26 we will be celebrating "Blessing of the Backpacks" and Education Personnel commissioning in all our worship services.

We're turning 13. Now is the time to live fully into the dreams God has for us. See you at church.

Word on the Street

As we continue with the "From the Heart" furnishings campaign, I continue to stress that the nature of the furniture is not as important as love demonstrated in these gifts. Our love is expressed in remembering or honoring someone, but also as love expressed to the people who are not at our church yet, who need the ministry of Grace Avenue.

Here is another illustration of that point:

It is said that the great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa - the city of his birth - but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate restriction, for wood, as long as it is used and handled, will show little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin became worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.

Our new building must be a mission station not a museum. Our love will be our legacy not the building or the contents therein. We must have the furniture to do the ministry. We must give the furnishings "From the Heart".

Word on the Street

The furnishings campaign for our new building has begun. It is called "From the Heart" and it gives us all the opportunity to remember and pay tribute to the special people in our lives. On our website there is a brochure that describes the guidelines and all the items being requested for the new building (click here). I invite you to carefully read through this brochure and spend time in prayer about your contribution to this effort. You can also get a printed brochure at the church.

I believe it is very important to clearly understand what we are doing. This is a furnishings campaign not a furniture campaign. Every item on this list will someday have to be replaced but the legacy of love we generate through this campaign will never be replaced. In preparing to make a contribution to this campaign ask yourself these questions before you choose any of the items:

1. Do I love this church?
2. Do I love someone who I want to honor or remember?

After you answer these questions, then begin to search for items that represent the people you care about. The Furnishings Committee has given us a wonderful set of choices that will affect the ministry we perform at Grace Avenue in a wide number of areas. For those who simply want to honor or remember someone, but do not know which area or items they want choose, there is a great gift card option. If you so desire, contributions can be made anonymously or simply "to the glory of God."

My family is planning on choosing six items; four items to honor each of our four children, one item to honor Laura's parents and one item to remember my parents. As we have prayed about this, we plan to spend at least $1000 on each of the six items. Your plan needs to be based on your prayers but this much I know; everyone can do something.

I am so excited about the progress on our new building and the plans for the renovation of our existing Worship Center. The new building still looks like it is on target to open sometime in December of this year, but I am even more excited about the ministry of "Making Disciples and Making a Difference through Jesus Christ" that will happen in this new building. Thank you in advance for the generosity I know you will show "From the Heart".

Word on the Street

July 20, 2012

The echoes of Vacation Bible Camp resound: Look Up & Trust God!

Word on the Street

July 13, 2012

One of my favorite storytellers is Garrison Keillor. He is famous for his yarns about a fictional small town in Minnesota called Lake Wobegon often told on the syndicated radio program "A Prairie Home Companion". The parody is about the fact that, from the outside, nothing much exciting happens there, but if you live in Lake Wobegon, there is always "news". Keillor finishes every newscast from Lake Wobegon with the phrase; "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking and all the children, above average".

It is a bit of an overstatement to say that we don't live in Lake Wobegon. We live in the extremes of stress and escape. We are either so busy with so many important things or we run away to mindless, self-indulgent, sometimes dysfunctional endeavors. Psychologists call it "fight or flight".

God calls us to the simple joys of everyday living. God calls us to appreciate the ordinary experiences in our lives that are extraordinary because of God's love. Philippians 4: 4-7 says: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Garrison Keillor states: "Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music and books, raising kids-- all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through."

This week are you living in the extremes or in the places where "the gravy soaks in and the grace shines through"?

Word on the Street

I was on vacation last week in Washington D.C. It is always amazing to see the richness of our nation's heritage depicted in the buildings, museums, monuments and institutions. When I go there and experience these things I realize that I am not simply encountering the past. I am also encountering a challenge as to what kind of citizen I will be in the future.

One evening we went to the area of the Tidal Basin just before sunset. A walk around the south and west side of the Tidal Basin will now take you to the Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials. In the Jefferson Memorial stands the large statue of Jefferson along with four panels of inscription quoting the famous Founding Father from Virginia. On the fourth panel are the words:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

As I read these words I thought about our country and our church. No one would ever have accused Thomas Jefferson of "Good Ol' Days" syndrome. Jesus said it this way: "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. (Luke 5: 37-38).

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street 6/15/12

Many of us are traveling this summer.  We are planning to go to some great destinations.  We are planning to see some amazing things and have some amazing adventures. We will need a way to get to those destinations.  Some of us will go by plane and others will go by automobile, but whatever method we choose, we would never mistake the vehicle for the destination.

In a new book called Remember the Future by Bishop Robert Schnase, he recalls hearing a sermon by Dr. Joy Moore at the 2011 World Methodist Conference in South Africa.  Dr. Moore told the gathering; “The church is not the destination any more than the plane and a successful flight are the ultimate destination on your next trip.” She went on to say; “The purpose of the church is the way to salvation.”

The church is at its best when we realize this.  The church is the vehicle that carries us on the journey of faith in Christ.  On the one hand one would never go on a long trip and just stay in the car or on the plane.  In the same way we cannot simply “go to church” and think we have arrived.  On the other hand one would never go on a long journey without a proper vehicle.  So by the same token, we cannot disassociate ourselves from the church and believe we are going to get anywhere on the journey of faith in Christ.  The church is not the destination but an essential vehicle.

I have experienced this again firsthand this week at Vacation Bible Camp.  The theme for the week has been “Look Up”.  As always the week has been filled with a great deal of excitement and learning, but the emphasis has not been simply; “go to church”.  The emphasis over and over again has been to teach our children to ‘Look Up and Trust God.”

When we get this straight we begin to see the value of the church as God’s vehicle but not God’s destination.

With you on Grace Avenue,
Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

P.S.  By all reports, the steeple frame on the new building (with the cross on top) will be set in place Monday morning June 18 between 8 & 9 am. Be sure to watch the edited video of this great event later that day.  

Word On the Street

June 1, 2012

May has been a terrible month for “The Market”.  After some signs earlier this year that the economy was beginning to rebound, most of the strengthening receded in the last 30 days.  Many of us “depend” on “The Market” for our livelihood, plans for our children, plans for our retirement or living out our retirement.  What we were told was wise investing over a long period of time has turned into a roller coaster of unpredictability.

Bill Enright is the Director of The Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at the University of Indiana.  He is one of the smartest people I know when it comes to research and trends regarding faith and money.  This month in his Insight column he wrote about God and  Money.   Here is what he wrote:

Recently I stumbled across an essay written in 1999 by Harvey Cox, retired Professor of Divinity at Harvard, on "The Market as God."  Cox reminded me that "at the apex of any theological system is its doctrine of God."  So we use words like Allah, God, Yahweh to denote divinity; Adam Smith, I would argue, used the term "Invisible Hand" to reflect his understanding of God. Today The Wall Street Journal and the business section of our newspapers all seem to suggest that a new grand narrative now governs human history, The Market.

In the monotheistic faiths God is sometimes characterized as omnipotent - all powerful and capable of defining what is real. As omniscient - all knowing, reflecting a kind of photographic wisdom that is all-inclusive and comprehensive. As omnipresent - or existing everywhere and shaping or influencing everything. Until recently, Cox reminds us, the Market was never God as it existed amidst the restraint of other institutions and centers of value...or gods.

What sets the market god apart from the God of traditional religious faiths? Traditional religions stress the finite character of human beings and the limits that characterize any earthly enterprise. So, as you think about your financial situation both individually and as a faith-based institution don't base your economic decisions solely on the market. Take time to bend your knees and bow your heads to the God behind and beyond the market as a potential source of wisdom, hope and generosity.

What is the source of your wisdom and strength this week?

With you on Grace Avenue,
Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street

May 18, 2012

The PGA Golf tour comes to DFW the next two weeks with the Byron Nelson Championship in Las Colinas this week and The Colonial Invitational in Ft. Worth next week. I like golf and I am amazed at the dedication and skill of some of these professional golfers. Like anyone who is dedicated to something, however there is a moment when dedication becomes obligation.

Harvey W. V. Pennick was famous golf instructor who lived for many years in the Austin TX area. He was coaching a woman who went on to win the Texas Amateur Women's Championship. He coached her right up to the minute of her tee time, and at that moment, the woman said to Pennick, "Well, I have to go out and play now". And he replied, "What do you mean, you have to go out and play? You get to go out and play".

Sometimes we forget that the things we are most dedicated to are also our greatest blessings. God gives us so many opportunities, many of which we have asked and prayed for, and yet when things get busy or hectic we turn our blessings into "Have to's".

Look at the following phrases. Which best describes you right now?

"I have to go to work" or "I get to go to work".

"I have to take the children to school" or "I get to take the children to school".

"I have to go to church" or "I get to go to church".

The list could be as long as you want to make it, but it is essential to analyze in regards to our faith. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Spring Fever and our propensity for letting apathy creep in to our prosperity. God gives us so many blessings, but we must be careful to not take those things for granted.

Is your life full of obligations or blessings?

Word on the Street

May 11, 2012

I spent this week at Perkins School of Theology at SMU at the Mentor Pastor Training Seminar. This fall Jenna Morrison will officially become an intern at our church as part of her seminary curriculum and I have the privilege of serving as her Mentor Pastor. This means Jenna will continue her work as one of our Co Youth Ministers, but since her classroom work is significantly reduced, she will be learning about many of the other aspects of ministry at Grace Avenue. In other words, our church will become her classroom for the 2012-2013 school year.

During my training this week I was reminded of how fortunate I have been to have great mentors all along my journey in ministry. Perkins calls this work "field education" and I have been blessed with professors and mentors that helped me connect my academic learning with the practical side of doing day-to-day ministry. In every walk of life we need "field education" to make what we do practical, fruitful and productive. It is especially important in the Christian walk to have "field education"; that is to take what we learn from the Bible and put it into everyday living.

One of my favorite mentors both in the classroom and in the field was a gentle giant named Virgil Howard. Dr. Howard taught New Testament studies at Perkins when I started seminary. Later he became one of my preaching professors. In many respects whether you like/dislike my preaching, you can credit/blame Dr. Howard. Eventually he became the director of the intern program at Perkins, mentoring many students in their "field education" as they finished seminary.

This week things came full circle for me as we gathered for closing worship at the seminar. In 2005 Dr. Howard passed away. It is always painful to lose a mentor and someone whom you respect and love at a very deep level. As the service began, however, I looked down at the bulletin and noticed that we would be using a prayer that Dr. Howard had written while he was the Director of the Intern Ministry. It is actually an interpretation of the Lord's Prayer. Dr. Howard would have been quick to remind us that you don't rewrite the Lord's Prayer. The best you can do is interpret it in light of your own experiences; "field education". This is what he wrote and what we prayed in that worship experience:

God, you are Father and Mother to each of us,
But nearer than our own breath:
Make yourself the center of our world and our lives.
Reign over us and among us;
Let your creative and life-giving will and dream for us
happen right now and right here in our world.
Make every bite of bread a taste of your loving presence.
Don't make us relive our failures day after day,
and help us not to make others relive their own failures.
And do not abandon us to our own violence,
but show us the way out of the cycle of violence
that threatens to destroy us.
Because your Reign and your Power and your Glory are, finally, all that matter.
AMEN.

Word on the Street

May 4, 2012

I truly appreciate all the congratulations sent my way regarding my 25th anniversary in ordained ministry. I have been so very blessed across the years by the people I've met and the churches I've served. It is especially gratifying to know that I have spent more than half those 25 years here at Grace Avenue.

As I have reflected on my ministry I realized that my life and work has been a "fill in the blank". It has not been "true/false" or "multiple choice", but instead it has been an experience which has been made complete by the hundreds and hundreds of people that have taught me, encouraged me, challenged me and allowed me to serve and be in ministry with them. I cannot begin to describe how wonderfully humbling this all is.

In many respects I feel like the man who was paralyzed and brought to Jesus in Mark 2. When they could not get him through the entrance to the house they cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down. Jesus was amazed by the faith of the paralyzed man's friends and in that moment healing occurred. In much the same way I am a product of people who continually bring me back to Jesus.

Please know how much I appreciate your constant prayers, efforts and love. Because of you my ministry is complete, and full; and yet there is so much more for us to share. Last Sunday night I was signing off from our Bible in 90 Days online session. As I did the thought occurred to me that 25 years ago I could not even imagine an experience such as an online Bible Study.

I wonder what the next 25 years will bring. I look forward to the amazing opportunities God will provide in the future. Thank you again for affording me the privilege of being your pastor.

Word on the Street

April 26, 2012

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church started this week in Tampa, Florida. General Conference meets every four years and is the official decision making body for the United Methodist Church. It is the only body that speaks officially for United Methodism and it produces our Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions. You can keep up with the proceedings of General Conference through the website www.umc.org.

Often we place great hope in gatherings or events such as these. In much the same way we get fired up during a Presidential election year. These are indeed important matters, however I find much more often that it is the little things we do faithfully every day that make the biggest difference in the long run.

Dave Travis of Leadership Network here in Dallas sums it up this way:
"Virtue shows up in a million tiny decisions. What sank the Titanic? The iceberg didn't do it. No big gash in the hull. Rather, the failure of the rivets created thousands of little slits that let the water in.

It's not the iceberg sins that get to us, it's the rivet slits that rush in and give us the sinking feeling."

I pray God will bless the actions, decisions and elections of our General Conference and our Country, however I believe real change occurs when we do the faithful things over and over again. Our Children's Minister Kristen Lane has a great sign on her desk. It says:
"Friendship is not a BIG thing. It's a million little things".

How are you doing with the little things this week?

Word on the Street

April 20, 2012

Spring is here! Everything is in full bloom, and I have the allergy symptoms to prove it. In addition to hay fever, however, I also find many of us are suffering from Spring Fever.

Spring Fever is an attitude that creeps in which often causes a spiritual malaise in our lives. We are tired of our routines and the expectations that go along with them. We feel less energy to follow through on our own responsibilities but seem to have enough capacity to complain about the world in general and specifically what is lacking in certain individuals. Those who study the condition note that there is a wider gap in Springtime between what we are and what we want to be. We see the world in full bloom and wonder why our lives have not bloomed in a similar way. As is often the case when this occurs, we find it easier to lash out and criticize others than do the challenging work of self-reflection.

This is why every Spring I take time to read a children's book (really written for everyone) called The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The story traces the journey of a boy and a tree throughout their lives from childhood to maturity. The focus keeps coming back over and over again to the things they do in order to be happy.

In many respects The Giving Tree is one of the most Godly stories I have ever read. It reminds me that the true power of Spring is found in the Resurrection, and Jesus Christ was raised because of his sacrificial love for us. In Philippians 2:5-11, the Apostle Paul recites a beautiful hymn of the early church:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death-
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

As Easter People, Springtime can be a delight when we honor our God-given purpose. Read "The Giving Tree" and more importantly "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus".

Word on the Street

April 13, 2012

In the Greek Orthodox tradition, the day after Easter was devoted to telling jokes. They believed that because of Easter, the final cosmic joke was on death not on human beings who now had been give the gift of resurrection. It is reminiscent of Paul's words in I Corinthians 15 which we will be studying this weekend in worship:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true:

'Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?' (I Corinthians 15: 54-55)

So in the spirit of our Greek Orthodox friends, and a few days late, here goes:

A man who walked into a pet store and said, "I want to return this talking bird."

The owner said, "Well, sir, we guarantee that all our birds can talk, but we can't guarantee when they will talk."

"No, no," the man said. "The bird talks all right, but I don't like its attitude. For six days I said to the bird, 'Can you talk?' The bird said nothing. Every morning and every night I stood in front of the cage and said, 'Can you talk?' The bird said nothing again. Finally this morning, I lost my temper and shouted at the bird, 'You stupid bird, can you talk?!'"

"So, what happened?" the owner asked.

"That bird looked at me and said, 'Yeah, I can talk. Can you fly?'"

I hope your Easter celebration continues to be full of wonder, joy and eternal laughter.

Word on the Street

April 6, 2012

We hear a great deal these days about logistics. This is the logical sequencing and organization needed to implement a plan. For many years it was a military term but now we hear a great deal about logistics as it relates to business effectiveness and efficiency.

There are many logistical requirements in order to celebrate Easter here at Grace Avenue. It takes careful planning by our staff and an army of volunteers in our church to pull it off. It takes careful and coordinated communication, timing, and effort. I am so grateful to everyone who works so hard, both in advance and on the actual day, to make Easter a truly spiritual experience. And as with most things that are logistically successful, the vast majority of those who attend on Easter we hardly notice all the work that is going on behind the scenes.

We may be challenged to ask; "Is all this effort really necessary? Do we really need all these different services, at all these different times?" Look at it from this perspective; Christ's resurrection is the most important news the world has ever received, and we are given the privilege of sharing that news.

God's greatest statement of love is more than worthy of our greatest logistical efforts. I can't wait to proclaim the Good News of Christ's Resurrection.

How about you?

Word on the Street

March 30, 2012

The drama of our salvation is relived and renewed again this week. Holy Week is not just the days before the BIG Easter Celebration. Holy Week is what makes the Easter Celebration BIG.

I was taught long ago that there is no resurrection without death. Jesus died, plain and simple; and he died for our sins. We cannot mask that or hide that fact. It may seem unpleasant or terse but we will die. The glory of Easter is that Jesus was raised from death by God's power and so are we.

Before we get to the joys and signs of new life like lilies, eggs, butterflies, and bunnies, we must experience the drama and emotion of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Without these Holy Week experiences our Easter observance is little more than a secular holiday.

I hope you will join me and my family as we take the time necessary to experience and appreciate all that God has done for us through the gift and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

This year, will your Easter merely be a one day event?

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street

March 23, 2012

Last week during my message I lifted up 27 common expressions we get from the Bible. The last one, "The Writing's on the Wall" was directly tied to the message from Daniel 5. If you would like to see all 27 CLICK HERE.

After almost every service someone reminded me of an expression that was not in my list of 27. They were great and I thought I would share them here.

Baptism by Fire - Luke 3:16

Double- Edged Sword - Proverbs 5:4, Hebrews 4:12

Forbidden fruit - Gen. 2: 16-17

Nothing new under the sun - Ecc. 1:9

Pride goes before a fall . - Prov. 16:18

Scapegoat. - Lev. 16: 8, 20-22

Turn the other cheek - Matt. 5:38

The best messages are the ones that are finished after we leave church. Thanks for these great additions.

How are you finishing the sermon this week?

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street

March 9, 2012

Benjamin Franklin is credited with many inventions. He invented many things we still use today including bifocal glasses, the lightning rod, the odometer, the catheter, and the glass armonica. Most of these inventions were not new ideas but were ideas that he improved and enacted. To that end Franklin was as much an innovator as an inventor.

To innovate means literally "to renew". This is what the Lenten season is all about. Lent is a time to renew our faith and "discover" much of the grace of God that we have been missing because we give so much attention to other things. Lent, like Spring, is not a time of depletion but a time of new possibilities through faith in Christ.

This weekend is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time (Remember to Spring Forward). Many believe that Benjamin Franklin invented DST. He did not. He was merely an innovator of that idea. Daylight Savings Time actually came into being in the early part of the 20th Century. Franklin believed that the day could be renewed during the Summer by maximizing the long hours of sunlight. Beginning this Sunday, think of all the wonderful things we do outside after 6:00 or 7:00 pm.

The pathway of faith is similar. Before we invent new ways to practice our faith, we must find ways to renew our faith. This is why I give thanks for the season of Lent.

How are you innovating your faith this week?

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Word on the Street

March 2, 2012

Beginning March 1st Grace Avenue UMC is participating in a program called The Bible in 90 Days. You read 12 pages from that Bible every day and in 90 days you've covered it all from Genesis to Revelation. Over 130 people from our church have signed up to take on this unique challenge and opportunity. I am extremely excited to be a participant in this program.

Some have asked why reading the Bible is so important. What role does, and should, the Bible play in modern life? Terry Carter tells of having a conversation with a former navy diver about diving deep, really deep underwater.

"He told me that he had been in situations so deep and dark that it was almost impossible to keep from becoming disoriented and confused. What a terrifying feeling -- being underwater, unable to see your hands in front of your face, not knowing which way is up, panic engulfing you. I immediately interrupted my friend, 'So what did you do?'

"'Feel the bubbles,' he said. 'When it's pitch black and you have no idea which way to go, you reach up with your hand and feel the bubbles. The bubbles always drift to the surface. When you can't trust your feelings or judgment, you can always trust the bubbles to get you back to the top.'"

"Apart from the experience of scuba diving, we need a way to determine what is real and true ... In the 66 books of the Bible, we have a reality library -- stories, letters, guidelines and examples from God that tell us what is true and real."

The Bible provides a point of reference and guides our lives like nothing else can. When you have lost your way; when you have no point of reference; when you have no idea which way to go; where do you turn?

By the way, it is not too late to sign up for the Bible in 90 Days. You can still get you materials this weekend at church (or CLICK HERE) and catch up on the first two or three days without any problem. Also I hope you will be in worship this weekend as we start this new series: "The Bible Tells Me So".

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

  

Word on the Street

February 24, 2012

Sometimes the Lenten season is about detours. It is changing our empty routines in order to take in something of God's presence that we may be missing on a regular basis. This is why we are often called to fasting during Lent. The object is not to solely deprive ourselves of food, but rather replace the mindless task of filling our stomachs with a time of spiritual nourishment.

Last week in my message I referenced the beautiful old American Elm which is believed to be the oldest living tree in Frisco. Have you taken a Godly detour to go see it yet? It is located on Maple Street near the intersection of North County Road. Thanks to Dezi Rollins who went to go see it last Sunday afternoon and took this picture:

Like so many experiences in Lent, however, there is nothing like witnessing it firsthand.
What detours are you prepared to take in this Lenten season in order to strengthen your relationship with God?

With you on Grace Avenue,
 

Billy Echols-Richter

Word on the Street

February 16, 2012

Safety First! This is an expression that we use around our homes, our schools and at our jobs. Now we need to make sure we are applying this adage at church.

Construction has begun in earnest on our new building but with the excitement comes some the need to be extra careful around a construction site that is in the vicinity of our church campus. The two can exist together if we remember a few helpful tips:

We must stay behind the orange fencing at all times. Even when work is not taking place. No one except the workers are allowed in the construction area at any time.

1. Watch and safeguard your children. Before construction it seemed safe to look away, check your smart phone, or have a conversation while the kids played or "hung out" for a few minutes. This is no longer the case. Be vigilant.
2. The eastern half of the Circle Drive is now a Construction Entrance during working hours. Large trucks are making deliveries and doing work. Take extra care when driving in the Circle Drive and avoid using it during daylight hours. The exception is Rainbow Corner drop off and pick up which has a short 30 minute window in the morning and afternoon Monday -Thursday.
3. If you want to get the best and safest view of construction, go upstairs in the Learning Center and look out the Gathering Room or Youth Room Windows. However if a group is meeting in one of those rooms, please do not go in and interrupt their meeting.
4. Finally, pray for safety; for our workers and for our congregation.

What a great time to say: "Please Pardon Our Mess". The excitement of construction has begun "Because of God's Love".

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Word on the Street

February 2, 2012

What's on your Bucket List? Literally what would you like to do or experience before you die? A few years ago there was a great movie by this title starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson that explored topic.

So what might be on your list?

Skydiving
A Trip around the World
Attending the Olympics, World Cup or Super Bowl
Meeting your favorite celebrity

How about reading the entire Bible? And what if I told you it could read it in 90 days.

Beginning in March Grace Avenue UMC will be participating in a program called The Bible in 90 Days. It is a reading program whereby you receive a special Bible designed for the task. You read 12 pages from that Bible every day and in 90 days you've covered it all from Genesis to Revelation. There is also a listening option that takes about 1 hour per day. To support this effort there are small groups that meet once a week to share information, ask questions and check-in on the progress being made. At Grace Avenue we plan to have groups that meet in person and others that meet online.

Detailed sign-up info will be out later next week. We begin the first week of March and finish the end of May. It will be great to start in Lent as a spiritual discipline and finish at Pentecost as we celebrate the Holy Spirit's presence in our reading.

By summer you can say I've read the entire Bible cover-to-cover. Are you ready to take on the next great thing on your Bucket List?

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street

January 26, 2012

This week I had the opportunity to attend and lead a workshop at the Large Church Initiative in Richardson. LCI is an annual gathering of United Methodist leaders from all across the country who direct some of our largest congregations. It is a great time of worship, inspiration and education.

One of the keynote addresses was given by Reggie McNeal (No, not the former Texas A&M quarterback). Reggie lives in Atlanta, GA but is part of a company called Leadership Network which is headquartered here in Dallas. I had never heard him speak but I have read a marvelous book he wrote entitled: Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church.

Because of his work, Reggie spends a great deal of time in airports. He told the gathering on Wednesday that he also loves to travel and visit wonderful destinations. He said: "A while back it occurred to me that the airport is never the final destination. No one says 'I think I'll go on a trip to the airport.' The airport cannot compete with the destinations to which we travel. In the same way I've come to realize that the Church is like the airport. We are not the destination. The Church is merely the connector to the Kingdom of God."

What would it look like for our church to be like an airport, helping people connect to life in all its abundance; what Jesus called the Kingdom of God?

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor