A Matter of Life and Death

One of the more difficult but also rewarding responsibilities in ministry is
providing comfort to those whose journey in this world is coming to an end. It is a time of
deep sadness but also great joy for the person who has lived a life in Christ.

Last weekend, I visited a member from my previous church at East Greenville.
Her daughter called me a few days earlier and said quite simply, “Mom’s dying.”

I was stunned to hear the news. Although the woman was in her eighties, she
had been a very active and vibrant member of the congregation.

When I arrived at her home, it was difficult to determine how aware she was of
my presence or what was happening around her, but we took time to pray and to offer
words of encouragement as we anointed her forehead with oil.

I was honored and blessed to be with her in her final days. After all, no one wants
to die alone, but I realized that she was not at all alone. The Lord was with her to
comfort her and bring her safely back home to her eternal reward.

The experience left me with a range of emotions, and a few questions — “Why
does dying have to be so difficult.” In fact, “Why do we have to die at all?

Scripture addresses the subject of death in several passages, including this from
the 12 th chapter of the Gospel of John, which we read at our worship service last
Sunday.

“The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. I assure you
that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a
single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their lives will
lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them
forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my
servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.”

So, according to God’s plan for all of us, there must be an earthly death before
there can be an eternal life. We know that, although the prospect is often unsettling and
process often grueling. Perhaps we should consider what happens before that. How
many seeds can we sow and how much fruit will they bear in honor of the Lord during
and even after our life on earth? That’s the real question.

If we are to serve Him, we must follow Him. He then promises to be with us so
that when the process of death is complete, the restoration and resurrection will take
place as it did for Jesus on that glorious Easter morning more than 2,000 years ago.

Let us take comfort in the fact that Jesus paved the way for us so that death in
this world would lead to life in the world to come. This should give us hope and joy as
we prepare for ourselves and others for life everlasting.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Snapshot of a Growing Church

For many years, USA Today has published a “Snapshot” poll in the lower left corner its front page. The poll measures the preferences of Americans on a particular topic each day. Last week, the newspaper published a poll about what activities Americans have missed most during the pandemic.

Not surprisingly, restaurants topped the list at 59-percent. After all, who doesn’t like to eat out, right? Going to movies and concerts was a distant second at 39-percent. Going shopping was third at 20-percent, although our shopping habits have certainly changed during the pandemic.

I was surprised and pleased to see houses of worship next on the list at 19-percent, finishing just ahead of fitness centers (16-percent) and grocery stores (15 percent).

I’m not sure that 20-percent of our nation’s population even attends worship services anymore, but it is nice to know that the yearning for such services is still relatively high among our citizenry.

There’s nothing quite like in-person worship. The fellowship, the spontaneity, and the connection combine to give us the feeling of community on Sunday morning. Activities during the week give the church additional vibrancy and purpose.

We are hopeful that by late spring or early summer, everyone will feel comfortable coming back to our Sanctuary and worshipping with us. We miss all of our members and friends who have been unable or uncomfortable worshipping in person.

In the meantime, we will continue with the livestream through the pandemic and far on into the future. In fact, we’d like to continue that service in perpetuity for those who are homebound, those who may be traveling, and even those who might sleep in on a Sunday morning but still want to worship, not to mention those who might randomly tune in on their own. Our thanks to Tom Rife for his efforts to get us up and running with a very professional video presentation each Sunday, and Jen Moser for her guidance and assistance along the way. We are very grateful, and we are reaching people through this medium that we never would have reached previously.

Whatever happens moving forward, we can and will continue worshipping together, but we have another very important responsibility along the way — we need to grow. We need to invite others, particularly young people with young families, to plant seeds for the future of the church. Our ancestors, who invested so much in Oak Chapel, never would have envisioned a day when we would close our doors, so let’s make sure that we not only stay open, but that we also flourish and thrive.

With spring rapidly approaching, it’s time to shake of the chill of a bitter cold winter and move forward with an active and comprehensive plan for vibrancy in our church. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions for new programs or other initiatives, or if you would like to join any of our existing activities or mission efforts, please let us know.

An active church is a growing church. We invite you (and anyone else you would like to join you) grow with us in the year ahead.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

A Tribute to the ‘Tower of Power’

As I approached the church late last week, I was greeted by three large
American Electric Power trucks and a host of workers in bright lime green vests. It was
clear that they were on a mission to replace one of the existing poles with a new one on
church property.

I was stuck by the size of the pole. It’s not like I had never seen one before, but
most of the ones we see are perpendicular to the ground. This one was parallel.

It reminded me of the cross. Not only would Jesus be unjustly crucified on it, but
He would be further humiliated by being forced to carry it up the hill on Calvary.

Like the pole, the cross is a symbol of power, but it is also a representation of
humility and submission. The pole has no power without the wires that hang from it. The
cross itself had no power had the Messiah not hung there for several agonizing hours
on the day of His death, but now it stands strong as the iconic symbol of our faith.

All these years later we gaze at the cross with a myriad of emotions. On the one
hand, there is sadness, regret, and horror. On the other, there is joy, freedom, and
praise.

Oh, but for the cross, where would we be today? As we continue to progress
through Lent, let us take some time to gaze once again on the cross to reflect on His
suffering and to marvel at His sacrifice. That could have been the end of the story, but a
few days later, He would rise again in great glory, power, and majesty, providing a
pathway to salvation for generations past, present, and future.

Lent is a sad and solemn time. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and
reconciliation, but it is also a time of preparation when we can come out of the darkness
and into the light.

As we humbly confess our sins, let us also take time to restore our covenant with
him and turn our back on sin. When Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” He knew that we
would not be perfect beings. He knew that we would be vulnerable to temptation and
that we would occasionally trip, stumble, and fall, but He also knew that we had the
wherewithal — with His help — to not allow sin to reign in our hearts.

That is the key message of His ministry, especially poignant during this Lenten
season. We must continue to walk in the light so that the enemy will not gain a foothold,
and that sin will not control our lives.

Depending on when you read this, there will be roughly three weeks before we
mark the dramatic events that would change the fate of humankind, from the Last
Supper to the Crucifixion to His Glorious Resurrection.

Even in these often dark and dreary March days of Lent, we know that the time
for rejoicing is near. Let us join together and honor the Lord God Almighty with some
meaningful prayer, deep devotion, and compassionate service during the climactic final
few weeks of Lent. Then we will really be equipped to celebrate when the Day of Glory
comes on Easter Sunday.

Until then, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

‘Drive-By’ Observations of Oak Chapel

It never ceases to amaze me the things I encounter in the parking lot of our
church. I mentioned a few weeks ago that the Coroner’s truck was parked there for
several hours, which was unnerving to say the least.

Last fall, a couple of young men drove up and were taking pictures of the church
on their phone. That, too, was unsettling until Miriam assured me that they were
probably playing a game of Pokémon.

Then a week or so ago, a purple pickup pulled in during a driving snowstorm.
The driver got out of the truck, pulled a bicycle out of the back of the truck, and merrily
peddled on his way — with at least two inches of snow on the ground.

When I was young and foolish (as opposed to being old and foolish), I tried to
ride my bike in the snow. It only took me one time to realize that bicycling in the snow is
pretty much impossible. I didn’t know where this guy was going or if he would ever
come back, but evidently he did because the purple truck was gone the next day.

All of this has caused me to wonder what people are thinking when they drive by
our church or pull into our parking lot? Do they see it as an inviting, welcoming place, or
are they simply using it as a meeting place, a staging area, or a turnaround? I wonder if
any of them would ever consider joining us for worship.

What would it take for those who use our parking lot for other purposes or drive
by the church to consider joining us for worship? How about those who never even
make it to the parking lot, much less the sanctuary? How might we persuade those folks
to worship with us?

Perhaps we should be more vocal, more inviting. Perhaps we should follow the
lead from Psalm 66, which lays out a nice invitation that is both compelling and
captivating…

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!”
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,
They sing the praises of your name.
Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!

Maybe we should be more intentional about inviting others to “Come and see
what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind.” After all, many people don’t
know or fail to see the power and majesty of the Lord God Almighty.

What better time to invite others than during this solemn Lenten season. It gives
us a great opportunity to be inclusive so that others can share in the joy and glory of
Easter Sunday. There is plenty of room to socially distance in the sanctuary or to
worship from the parking lot in the safety and comfort of one’s vehicle.

Why not offer that invitation today? Fear not rejection or ridicule. Instead, let us
spread His Word as we share our faith. Let us give others a chance to experience what
we experience with fellow believers — the glory and majesty of our Sacred Savior.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Is Our Long-Awaited Youth Movement Finally Here?

Three cheers for Erica Boyer! She has been a real champion in sharing her faith
and her love for Oak Chapel with others. She has been inviting many of her peers to
experience our church and perhaps become actively involved with our ministry.

This past Sunday, she brought four of her friends, and they really seemed to
enjoy their visit. They were engaged during the service and excited when they visited
our new youth room. One of the young men even said, “This is my new church.”

We have been hoping and praying for this moment for some time, so I think it is
important for us to capitalize on the opportunity. Let us warmly welcome these young
people and those who follow into our church. Let us invite them to become involved and
develop a real sense of purpose. They are already asking about church projects and
mission opportunities, so I am hopeful that we can integrate them quickly into the life of
the church. I hope you will join me in this venture, as we attempt to grow in the coming
months. If you know of anyone in this age group that might be interested in joining our
group, please let us know. All are welcome!

So much of Scripture talks about patience, prayer, and perseverance, and I
believe we are seeing the fruits of those virtues right now. If we are faithful and
obedient, God will answer our prayer in His time, and I believe that His time has come.
We are ready to grow and expand our base so that we can become a multigenerational
church.

Imagine the possibilities as young people bring new excitement and enthusiasm
to our mission. Imagine the potential of young families connecting and establishing a
rock-solid foundation for the future. All of this is possible through the God we serve and
the covenant we create with him.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We don’t have to travel to all nations; we can have an impact right here in Wayne
County. Let us welcome others and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded,
so that they, too, might become disciples and share in the promise of salvation.

Imagine for a moment what it will be like 15-20 years from now when our church
is flourishing and possibly even expanding. Such thoughts are enchanting and
exhilarating — and it’s all possible through our divine partnership with God.

I salute all of you as faithful servants and invite you to join with me as we prepare
and plan for a future of prosperity. It all starts with a dream.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Keep the Faith: A Revival is Coming

I had a conversation last week with a longtime friend who asked me if I thought
revival was coming anytime soon. I wasn’t sure how to answer, especially given the
current circumstances, which would lead us to believe that we are nowhere close to any
sort of spiritual awakening. In fact, I fear that we are headed in the opposite direction.

But then I read the following passage from Psalm 102, and I quickly realized that
the Lord often surprises us with blessings of hope when we least expect it. While I have
been discouraged by the consequences of the coronavirus, which have had a
devastating impact on church attendance, I realize that God is always with us, and so I
encourage all of you to stay connected with us — whether remotely or in person —
because there is a promise of future prosperity. We just have to remain patient and
faithful. Here’s what the passage says…

Let this be written for a future generation,  that a people not
yet created may praise the Lord:   “The Lord looked down from his
sanctuary on high,  from heaven he viewed the earth,   to hear the
groans of the prisoners    and release those condemned to death.”
  So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in
Jerusalem   when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to
worship the Lord.

There is a generation coming that will praise the Lord just as we and our
ancestors have tried to do. We may not see ourselves as prisoners, but, in fact, we are
slaves to the Word of God, and although we may now be groaning, the Lord is looking
down from his sanctuary on high. He knows what we’re doing and how we are
desperately committed to keeping the doors of Oak Chapel open for that future
generation to one day come through. He hears our prayer and will release us from what
now seems like the slow, disheartening, and agonizing death of our church.

We are called upon to keep the faith so that the name of the Lord will be
declared, not only in Zion, but also in Wayne County; not only in Jerusalem, but also in
Jefferson.

The day will come when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the
Lord, and each of us will have had a role because of our efforts to keep the church
afloat.

So be not discouraged, a revival is coming. Whether it happens in our lifetime, I
cannot say, but I do believe that God will bless our efforts, and so I share my heartfelt
gratitude with each of you. Let us never give up, for the God we serve is faithful and
true, and his will shall be made known to a new generation of believers.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Ash Wednesday Symbolizes Death to Sin, Life in Christ

It’s been almost a full year since we last opened the solemn season of Lent with
the imposition of ashes. As you may remember, we gathered in the sanctuary with our
friends from New Pittsburg United Methodist Church to mark the 40 days leading up to
the epic events of the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the glorious resurrection of the
Lord.

As it turned out, that would be one of our last public gatherings because word of
the coronavirus was about to force us to close our doors for three months. It would be a
dark and difficult year. Nearly half-a-million people would lose their lives, either directly
or indirectly, because of COVID 19.

Now, it appears that we are headed out of the darkness and into the light.
Promising vaccines are being administered as we speak, and perhaps by summer or
fall, this taxing ordeal will finally be behind us.

With good news on the horizon, we were hoping to gather in person for an Ash
Wednesday service next week, but for a variety of reasons, we have decided that our
Ash Wednesday service will be virtual this year. You will be able to access the service
through a link on our website (oakchapelumc.com).

As we prepare for that service, let us reflect on the book of Ezekiel, Chapter 9,
which is where we learn about the origins of this custom of imposing ashes…

Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to
execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.”    And I saw six men
coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly
weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his
side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel
went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the
temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his
side   and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the
foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in
it.”   As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without
showing pity or compassion. Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the
mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark.” 

The graphic and unsettling passage of Scripture reminds us the Lent is very
clearly a time of judgment, but it is also a time for repentance and ultimately salvation.
Those who were marked were spared. Consider the irony of the mark we would
ordinarily receive on Ash Wednesday — ashes, the symbol of death. However, when
you think about it, it all makes sense. Jesus Christ died for our sins. In the same way,
we must be dead to sin so that we can be alive in Christ. Let us all come together as we
prepare to mark the beginning of Lent — albeit virtually — on Ash Wednesday.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Let Us Break Bread Together

Celebrating communion on the first Sunday of each month is a sacred and
longstanding tradition at Oak Chapel and many other churches across the country and
around the world. It is a deeply personal sacrament that unites us as one with Christ.

I had forgotten just how intimate communion was intended to be until I reread a
passage from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John in which Jesus said to those who
had gathered with him while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, “Very
truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have
no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”

I can’t imagine what his followers were thinking when they heard this. Eat the
flesh and drink the blood of the one we follow? Did he really mean this in a literal
sense? No, but the elements of bread and wine would serve as a surrogate for his body
and blood, so that whoever eats and drinks in this sacred ritual, Jesus said, “remains in
me, and I in them.”
In other words, the sacrament of communion unites us with Christ in a way that
we are actually in him and he is in us. We really can’t become any more united or
intimate than that.

Jesus goes on to say, “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the
Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came
down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this
bread will live forever.”

Jesus was obviously quite serious about the sacredness and solemnity of
communion, and so are we here at Oak Chapel. In keeping with the tenets of the United
Methodist Church, we place no restrictions on the distribution of communion. All are
welcome and encouraged to participate.

Even this deadly pandemic has failed to undermine our efforts to share Christ’s
body and blood. For those who worship in the sanctuary or in the parking lot, we have
communion kits that include the wafer (symbolic of Christ’s body) and the juice
(emblematic of His Blood).

We invite and encourage you to commune with us as we share the sacrament
this Sunday. If you will be home, feel free to prepare your own elements with bread or
crackers and juice. We would also be happy to deliver some of our communion kits to
your home, so that you will have a supply until you are ready to rejoin us in the
sanctuary. If you are interested, please contact me at 330-988-2577 or
jfinn@wooster.edu, and I will deliver the kits directly to you (at no charge, of course).

Communion is an all-inclusive sacred celebration at Oak Chapel, whether you
are there in person or online. Let us all break bread together this Sunday.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Billboarding Our Faith

Scripture tells us to boldly proclaim our faith. It makes no mention of putting it on a billboard because, well, to the best of our knowledge, billboards did not exist in Biblical times. Still, we thought, “Why Not?” so we are moving forward with the project, planting the seed and waiting patiently and faithfully to see what develops.

Beginning on Saturday (Jan. 30), the world (or at least those traveling on Route 30 West from Wooster) will see our church in lights.

Thanks to a very generous donor, we will be promoting Oak Chapel to all who drive by — eight seconds every minute, 24 hours a day, for seven days — on the new electronic billboard located on the site of RES Auction Services, just west of Church of the Savior.

Why not more? Well, that’s all we can afford right now. Plus, we hope to assess the effectiveness of our exposure before moving further. We know that we will increase awareness, but will we attract more people to Oak Chapel? We’ll have to see, but we believe it is worth the effort.

The sign will identify us as the “Kind, Caring, Compassionate Church in the Country” and list our address as well as our website. In addition, it will feature our stained glass windows in the sanctuary, so you will recognize it as soon as you see it. We’re hopeful that those who drive by, especially those who are looking for a church home, will be struck by it, and consider visiting us some Sunday.

In the 16^th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, we are encouraged to  “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” This is one way we can do that. It’s not a direct proclamation of the gospel, but it is an invitation to hear the Good News.

Other Scriptural references to spreading the Word include this passage from II Timothy, which exhorts us to “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” What I like about the billboard is that even though it will only carry our message for one week, it will do so all hours of the day and night, So perhaps someone driving at 4 a.m. will be attracted to it, and give further consideration to their personal faith journey. Even if it doesn’t bring them to Oak Chapel, perhaps it will bring them out of the wilderness if they are wandering and into the light.

There are many other Biblical references to spreading the Word, but I will leave you with this from Psalm 96:3, which I believe sums it up rather nicely: “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”

We’re not necessarily reaching a global audience, but we are definitely stretching beyond the borders of Wayne County. In addition to influencing local residents, we are hopeful that our message will reach and resonate with others traveling across the country so that even if they reflect on their faith for just a few seconds, it will certainly be a blessing worthy of praise and thanksgiving.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Sleep Tight and Then Actively Bring the Church to the People

            What keeps you up at night? We all have something that occasionally causes us to toss and turn. For me, it’s not so much about falling asleep — I can do that pretty much anywhere at any time. My problem is that if I awaken in the middle of the night, I often have a hard time getting back to sleep.

            Lately, what has awakened me most is the uncertainty as to whether I set the alarm at the church. It’s easy to do, and I remind myself to do so by using the app on my phone as soon as I lock up the church doors, but something always seems to happen between the time I leave the church and the time I get into the car (a span of just 30 seconds) that causes me to forget.

As a result, I often wake up in the middle of the night, and realize that I have failed to arm the system. Fortunately, I can do it from the comfort of my home, so I just pick up the phone, go to the app, and arm the system (provided someone else hasn’t done so in the meantime). Then, I can roll over and go back to sleep.

All of this made me think about the early days of our current sanctuary. I assume that back in 1970 the church would be locked up at the end of each day, but I doubt that Pastor McLachlan lost sleep over external threats to the church, and I am certain he had no security system to arm each night.

I am very grateful to our Trustees for their swift and decisive action in providing a reliable security system for our church, and for the plans to install additional cameras to increase surveillance, which we hope will reduce threats to the church that means so much to us.

At the same time, I lament the fact that our church doors can’t be open all the time — to anyone who wants to draw closer to God anytime of the day or night. I realize that this is a very naïve and unrealistic objective, especially in today’s increasingly unsafe world, but I also believe in my heart that access to the church should not be impeded under any circumstances. What a dilemma — idealistic expectations versus real-world circumstances.

I realize that one day — in accordance with God’s plan and timetable — we will have unrestricted access to the Him in the glory of His Kingdom, and we can all rejoice in that.

The question is, what can we do in the meantime? How can we make our church more enticing to those on the outside — those who could benefit most from a relationship with the Lord.

The answer, I think, comes from I Timothy 4:13-16, which states, “Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching. Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you. Practice these things, and live by them so that your progress will be visible to all. Focus on working on your own development and on what you teach. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.”

Our gentle words and our compassionate actions will encourage others to seek the Lord and set our minds at ease so that we can all get a good night’s sleep.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John