posted Feb 3, 2012 7:26 AM by Unity Moravian
Last week I had a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor who operated on my shoulder. After a few moments of examination and asking questions about pain and discomfort, he said, “your shoulder looks great. Give it a couple more weeks of healing but then you can do pretty much what you want, it should be fine.” He indicated that to ease the stiffness would require more time and I would have to continue to do stretching exercises over the next four to six months in order to regain most of my mobility. He then said, “I don’t need to see you again unless you have some additional problems.” I’m sure he saw in my facial expression a sense of relief. And I must admit I was relieved. Just short of three months I have very little pain and am gradually regaining some of my mobility.
The one item though he did mention is that I would need to continue stretching exercises in order to help regain more motion and flexibility to my arm and shoulder. In other words, I need to put forth more effort so that down the road I can hopefully do most of the things I used to do prior to my injury. I must admit getting to this point where my pain is significantly less, and my mobility is definitely better and the doctor has pretty much said, ”unless you do something really stupid you should be fine,” I have pretty much convinced myself, “well, I got this licked.” But I know better, because I realize if I don’t continue these stretching exercises my mobility and strength will stay pretty much as it is right now.
Our faith journey is one that I believe requires us to continue to stretch our minds, hearts, and spirits. It is true; having experienced God’s eternal love and care through various moments of our lives can be very comforting and powerful, but unless we continually open ourselves to expanding the gifts and talents God has entrusted to us, then those experiences can become just a stagnant remembrance of a time and place that may have had meaning and purpose.
There are numerous ways to stretch our minds, hearts, and spirits. We can participate in a new activity or organization that will allow us to share, discuss, and grow in our faith journey. Maybe a Sunday School class on a Sunday morning, or a weekday Bible Study might be a way for that to be accomplished. Sometimes what we need to stretch are our relationship muscles by getting to know others in our church community better. Sit in a new place of worship and get to know a member or a family that you have rarely spoken too. Call a member who has been absent and just express your care and concern. Maybe stretch those muscles of outreach to people or a group that needs help and nurture. Volunteer through Sunnyside Ministry, the Community Blood Drive, help drive or provide a meal to a member in need of assistance, or an organization that would welcome your assistance such as our youth program or Vacation Bible School.
Just as my shoulder will not regain it’s full mobility and strength just because of a successful surgery, neither will our faith gain it’s full mobility and strength just because our membership is at a church. Continue to strengthen your faith by being engaged in the various programs and activities here and throughout the community. To do so will strengthen not only you but also the whole community that is God’s Creation.
-Pastor Zimmerman |
posted Nov 29, 2011 8:29 AM by Unity Moravian
[
updated Nov 29, 2011 8:31 AM
]
To all the members of Unity Moravian Church we send you God’s Blessings during this holy time of the year. Since you are our church family, Marty and I wish for each of you a joyous and fulfilling Advent and Christmas Season.
Every year at this time, each of us makes our personal journey to Bethlehem to once again visit with the Christ Child. How do we come to this holy season? Is it any different this year than in previous years? What does this time really mean? How do we make this journey more meaningful?
My guess is these are the types of questions that are more common than we may wish them to be. It is easy to be consumed by the trappings of this season and lose perspective on what do we truly celebrate. I ask you to use the following poem as a guide during this coming season to help each of us center ourselves not only on what we need to do, but also on who we need to be. This poem is by Ann Weems from her book, Kneeling in Jerusalem.
Each year the Child is born again. Each year some new heart finally hears finally see finally knows love. And in heaven there is great rejoicing! There is a festival of stars! There is celebration among the angels! For in the finding of one lost sheep, the heart of the Shepherd is glad, and Christmas has happened once more. The Child is born anew and one more knee is bowed! |
posted Oct 6, 2011 10:53 AM by Ruth Burcaw
“What is the urgent and authentic mission of our Christian life and congregation? How do we live “the more” of this important vocation? What might such an adventure look like for our everyday life and our church life?” These are some of the questions which Dr. Doug Bailey will be asking us, the members of Shallowford Presbyterian Church and Unity Moravian Church, as we jointly convene a special fall program on how we “Become the More” in the community of Lewisville. The Rev. Dr. Doug Bailey, a recent professor of Urban Ministry at Wake Forest Divinity School and Founder/President of Center for Urban Ministry; a national training center for clergy and congregations, will lead us through this exciting journey.
This program has two segments to it. The first program will be held on Wednesday, October 19, at Unity Moravian Church and the concluding segment will be held on Sunday, October 23 at Shallowford Presbyterian Church. Each program will begin with a light meal at 6:00pm followed at 6:45pm – 8:00pm with Dr. Bailey. Nursery care will be provided at both churches, and we hope to be able to provide care for early elementary age children also. This will be offered only during the program time. In order to make sure both churches prepare enough food for the meals, reservations will be required. Registration forms will be available beginning on the first Sunday of October.
The governing boards of both congregations have been challenged to attend and participate in these two programs, but the challenge is also for the members of both congregations to come and become more engaged in what it means to do ministry in our community. Rob Evans, pastor of Shallowford and myself are very excited about once again working cooperatively. Also, having the expertise of Dr. Bailey should provide both congregations with many challenges on how we can better serve the needs of people within our community and churches.
The Church Board of Unity Moravian Church and I urge your attendance and participation in this joint program.
Pastor Zimmerman |
posted Aug 23, 2011 10:15 AM by Ruth Burcaw
Though the heat index tells us that summer is in full swing, we are already looking toward the fall as we gear up some new programming for Unity Moravian. The Church Board has approved three (3) new programs for our church community.
The first program will be held on a quarterly basis. The tentative title of this program is “Hello Deli.” Once a quarter we will be having an evening program preceded by a deli meal. The first of these quarterly programs has been advertized and is scheduled for Sunday, July 31, at 6:00pm. Amy Lewis will share with us her travel experience to Tanzania this summer. Due to Amy’s school schedule, we have had to fast track this program, so even though this is the August newsletter, we wanted to put this specific program in this newsletter knowing that most members will receive the newsletter prior to Sunday, July 31. There will be a donation jar to help defray the expenses of the meal. The Comenius Class is sponsoring these programs. The other quarterly programs are in the planning stage.
The second program will be a day time Bible Study planned for the months of September, October and November. The study will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of these three months beginning at 11:00am and concluding at 12noon. Those dates are September 6 & 20, October 4 & 18, and November 1 & 15. The focus of this study will be on Paul’s Letter to the Church at Philippi.
The third program is a joint effort with Shallowford Presbyterian Church. As most everyone knows, we have for the last four years pooled together our resources in a joint Vacation Bible School program. We have engaged in pulpit exchanges and have invited the members of Shallowford to join us for our Souper Bowl Luncheon, of which over 50 of their members attended. In October both congregations will be hosting a lecture series with Dr. Doug Bailey. Dr. Bailey is a professor at Wake Forest Divinity School, and is
nationally known for his expertise in congregational life. There will be two nights of lectures with Dr. Bailey. The dates are Wednesday, October 19, and Sunday, October 23. Unity will host one of these nights and Shallowford will host the other. Details have not been finalized but we are excited about this joint opportunity of study and fellowship.
The Church Board is excited about these new opportunities for study and fellowship. As we move toward these opportunities to learn and become more engaged with our journey of faith, our hope is we will discover as a community of faith the presence of God in our life and the continuing nurture from being a part of this community at Unity Moravian Church. |
posted Jun 30, 2011 7:10 AM by Unity Moravian
[
updated Jun 30, 2011 8:02 AM
]
About the time you read this article seven young people and three adults from Unity will be getting ready to head to Staten Island, New York to volunteer at Project Hospitality. The focus of this Mission Trip will be to work with homeless individuals and victims of AIDS. This Youth Mission Trip will be the first one where we will volunteer our time in an urban setting. Though much planning has taken place, and you as members have provided not only financial assistance but also your personal and prayer support; there is still a lot of the unknown that awaits us. Even though Staten Island was our home for some years, and New Dorp Moravian where I was pastor provided support to Project Hospitality, I am still finding myself feeling somewhat anxious about our journey and work. This is going to be a new and I believe a very engaging experience for the youth and the adults that will be attending. I have a lot of anticipation as we await the unknown, and the unknown is very high on the agenda as we look toward traveling to work at Project Hospitality.
My guess is the unknown for most of us can be very unnerving and cause us to be quite anxious. After all, we are a people that often wants our lives to have some kind of rhythm and routine; where we at least have some knowledge of how our daily lives will flow. There is much to like about routine, after all it helps us focus on certain patterns in life that can give us meaning and help us to measure what is important and unimportant. The unknown can interrupt life, intrude, and barge in, often unexpectedly; and by doing so disturbing that routine with ideas, concepts, and feelings which may lead us to new and maybe uncomfortable actions. This is the type of unknown that I am anticipating as we begin our work and relationship with people who are going to be very different from our normal daily friends and acquaintances. The unknown may take us to new levels of understanding which might cause all of us to look differently at how we see people whose lives and issues are at a 180 degree difference from our own. Our thoughts and actions in the future may be shaped by what we experience and not all of what we experience may be pleasant or happy. As much as our journey into the unknown beginning July 1 will disturb many of us; and I believe it will, I look forward to this experience; because I, too, need to have my eyes and heart opened to that which I may not wish to see. So I have some butterflies in my stomach as we get closer to our date of leaving. I also have an excitement of anticipation as I and we move toward the unknown. The one thing I wish could occur is everyone in this church could experience this kind of unknown at least once in life. A time, a moment, an encounter, with others whose lives are at 180 degree difference from our own. To sit down, talk, get to know them, and begin to relate to issues that often we only glance at on the news or in the paper and say, “well that’s too bad that is occurring,” or “sure is sad how something like that happens.” I really believe it would cause us to discover that God’s Creation, God’s Grace and Love, is not confined within the walls of a church building on a Sunday morning. It’s on street corners, down alleys, behind closed doors in apartments, homes, and dingy hotels, and it is in the lives of people whom we would rather not be around - - - in other words it is in the “UNKNOWN” places of our lives. That’s where ten members of Unity Moravian will be heading on July 1. I have a lot of anticipation about what we might discover.
-Pastor Zimmerman |
posted Jun 1, 2011 6:34 PM by Unity Moravian
[
updated Jun 1, 2011 6:50 PM
]
During the later part of May and into June thousands of 18 and 22 year olds have buttoned up a colored robe, placed upon their head a rather ugly square contraption called a mortarboard, walked down an isle or some grassy field in order to hear their name called and they stand before friends, teachers, parents, and family to receive a piece of paper that says something similar too;
“Having completed satisfactorily the prescribed course of study, and on recommendation of the faculty NAME OF PERSON is granted this degree from NAME OF INSTITUTION."
At that moment cheers can be heard, flashes go off from cameras, and in the next couple of days there are parties, gifts, and beach trips all indicating one has graduated. It is a marvelous time and one that notes accomplishment.
This time of graduation though also represents change. It is a time of moving forward, to some new experience and endeavor. Things will never be the same - - - Life changes!
It’s pretty easy to talk about life changes for those who are graduating. It is a time parents and young adults will be facing a whole new set of issues and in that will be a whole new set of freedoms. But as much as we may want to speak about changes going on for our graduates, change happens in all of our lives. Everyday we awaken; change occurs.
It may be subtle and have little impact on our daily routine but there are times when change happens and we face a whole new set of issues which causes strife and tension within our lives.
It is in those moments that our faith can speak and often bring comfort to the stress that is caused by this change. It is also the time when the community of faith should step forward and provide a place where one is comforted at the same time they are urged to cope and handle this change. As we approach this time of summer, our energy is often focused on a more laid back approach to life. And I hope all will have time this summer to experience some of that down time; to rejuvenate and reenergize your life. However, change happens all the time. My hope is if change is occurring for you, that you will discover a community here at Unity where you will be able to share those changes with others in worship, in other activities of your church community, in Sunday School classes, or in special trips and outings.
Christ’s ministry was always within the context of community. It was where he shared his ministry and that is exactly what our purpose should be as a church community. We are to be here, to share with each other the issues and changes that occur in our lives.
-Pastor Zimmerman |
posted May 3, 2011 3:11 PM by Unity Moravian
The weather is changing. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of that insight. For the last several weeks most people, including myself have awakened each day not sure what to expect when it comes to the weather. One day it’s 85 degrees, sun brightly shining without a cloud in the sky. A couple of day’s later jackets become mandatory as we drive through a morning snow shower. Rain and 45 degrees one day intersects with 75 degrees and dry the next. Pollen begins to fall, and sneezing becomes a routine. Wind at times has been refreshing but other times destructive and deadly. Rain has refreshed us as it gently falls to the ground followed by torrential downpours where you can’t see 20 feet in front of you. The weather is changing. As much as we may notice this severe change of weather, the fact is each and every day of our life has encounters with change. Even our routines, as rigid and scheduled as they might be; can encounter many different twists and turns. We don’t know as we awaken each day what we may encounter or might engage us. That is life. And if this is life, then the faith we profess and indicate has importance to us; must adapt or help us move through these changes that occur. During this spring season as life and creation continues to change around us, isn’t it our responsibility to allow our faith to engage us in the potential changes of life. Faith is not a stagnant, dormant entity that waits around, or tucked away for safe keeping. Faith doesn’t come to our rescue when needs arise or issues are to be settled. Just as the weather changes and we need to prepare, adapt, plan, adjust, rework to live in that change, our faith engages our life so we can prepare, adapt, plan, adjust, and rework in order to find meaning and purpose. Faith is a living faith, and in that living faith, we must approach each day knowing that changes will be occurring. May the Spirit of God continue to move and motivate you as you face the many changes that will take place in your life during this spring season, a season where growth and new life occur in all of God’s Creation. Pastor Zimmerman |
posted Apr 12, 2011 5:19 PM by Unity Moravian
[
updated Apr 12, 2011 6:10 PM
]
Christians during the middle of the first century, following the stories of the Resurrection, kept every Sunday as a celebration of this event. It was not until the end of the first century that the celebration of Easter became an annual observance. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea placed the observance of Christ’s resurrection on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox, or the time when the sun crosses the equator. With that decision, the time of Easter has always fallen between March 22 and April 25. So this year is just about as late as Easter can ever fall. Even though the celebration of the resurrection occurs on a specific day, what’s interesting is that from the early part of Christian history, the understanding of the resurrection has never been limited to a single day event. Early Christians prepared for Easter by sharing in a feast on the preceding Friday and Saturday. During the third century, fasting was extended to the six days of the week before Easter, which we call Holy Week. The expectation was that one cannot suddenly celebrate Easter without first understanding the journey and the struggle of Easter. As we move toward Holy Week and Easter, I hope we each will grapple with the questions of how this time touches our lives. In our tradition we will gather each night of Holy Week to hopefully not read the stories written in the Gospels as a way to prove something but rather as a way to open our hearts and minds to new encounters with Christ’s words of care, inspiration, struggle, suffering, compassion, and love. May this season provide us with that opportunity, and in so doing, move us to clearer and more insightful understandings of how our faith is alive. |
posted Dec 5, 2010 6:18 AM by Ruth Burcaw
[
updated Dec 5, 2010 6:50 AM
]
I remember the smells. When growing up, I always wanted to head to the kitchen, especially during this time of the year. My mom was always baking between Thanksgiving and Christmas: Cakes, pies, cookies, bread. If there would have been a shortage of flour and sugar in the city during the Christmas Season, I would know why; because my mom had tons of it ready to use. Of course there always had to be a couple of raisin cakes for my dad, pumpkin pies for my brother, and, for me, mincemeat cookies and fried apples pies. They were my addiction growing up, and it is these two food items from my mom I miss more than anything else. I was pulled by a food magnet that dragged me through the hallway into the kitchen with the hope of tasting something that would not only fill my belly but warm my spirit. I don’t ever remember being disappointed. Even if it was a food item that was not my favorite, the smells of the season engulfed me in a way that no other time of the year could.
What about you? What does this Season of Advent and Christmas bring to your memory? I don’t want to focus only on food or traditions, after all, they can, at times, become so locked into place they become just routine and nothing of importance is gained from them. What do you anticipate occurring during these four weeks? We are told it is a time of anticipation and preparation. We can place our Advent Wreaths and Manger Scenes in prominent locations so that we pass them by everyday, but what do we see, and what do they mean, and what do they tell us?
The fact is, each of us must answer this question, but, it is not a standard answer that comes from a multiple choice test. You don’t necessarily choose one answer from column A and one answer from column B. After all, the answer may change from year to year because this year, you or I may grow into a new tradition, and by doing so, we grow out of an old tradition.
If this Season’s focus is about preparation and anticipation, then one of the most important things we can do is be open to something new. That was what the shepherds did on that hillside, it’s what the innkeeper did for Mary and Joseph, it’s what the angels did as they gloriously announced the coming of the child - - - something new. That something new may be different for each one of us. It may touch the lives of others or it may be very personal where only you will discover its meaning. Either way, that something new may be the catalyst in opening your life to a different direction.
I wonder if you and I are willing to take that kind of chance; to anticipate and prepare ourselves for something new.
~Pastor Zimmerman |
posted Nov 5, 2010 8:43 AM by Ruth Burcaw
I hope every member has placed on your calendar NOVEMBER 14TH, our day of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Unity Moravian Church. My wish is that every member of our church family will come to worship on this day as we share our memories and look forward to our goals as a community of faith. As a reminder, we will have several ways to celebrate our 30 years of ministry. During worship we plan to have a special video presentation that will allow us to see where we came from and where we are going as a church. Following the service, we will gather in our Fellowship Hall to share a covered dish luncheon. Please bring to this meal extra food for we hope to have many former members participating in this special day of celebration. Following the meal, we will gather back in the sanctuary for our Church Talent Show. There are also two surprises that will occur this day and you will need to be in attendance to find out what these surprises will be. As I pause to look at our church, I think about what 30 years means. 30 years is 360 months, 1872 weeks, 10,950 days, 262,800 hours,15,768,800 minutes, and 946,080,000 seconds. Or one can view 30 years as 30% of a century, almost a generation, or approximately 40% of the average life span of an individual born in the U.S. At age 30 most people are in their early years of work but for sports figures at age 30 most will be retiring within the next 10 years. For a number of people 30 is considered the age where you begin to view, analyze, and think about one’s lifespan. At age 30 one is seen as old by a child who is 6 but is viewed as young and vibrant if you are 70. 30 years ago in 1980 some of the number one hits on the Billboard Charts were Funkytown by Lipps Inc., Sailing by Christopher Cross, It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen and Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes. In 1980 the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series, the Oakland Raiders won the Super Bowl and the Los Angeles Lakers were the NBA Champions. The average cost of a new home was $68,700, a new car was $7200. The miracle on ice occurred in Lake Placid, NY, Mt. Saint Helen erupted in Washington State, Pac Man was invented, post-it-notes were first sold, Voyager 1 sent back pictures of Saturn, fax machines were invented in Japan, and millions of people tuned into the show Dallas to see who shot J.R. But these events or tidbits of information tell us nothing about what has happened in this church. Though we are going to celebrate these 30 years on Sunday, November 14, even those few hours together in worship and fellowship will only touch the surface of who we are as a church. I think the very best way to look at our 30 years, the best way to learn and find insight into what it has meant to be a church, the very best way to truly celebrate what it means to be a community of faith, is to talk and listen to those in this church who have been here for these 30 years. Through these stories all of us can find out the commitment, hope, enjoyment, frustration, fulfillment, which has been passed down for these last 30 years. These members have been the catalysts in providing all of us with this facility but more importantly they have provided us with a heritage and a history that has shared the presence of God with so many people. So as we all move toward this day of remembrance and celebration, I invite members to spend some time with those in our church community who have been a part of Unity Moravian Church for these 30 years. Let them share with you their stories, their remembrances, and their dreams for the future. If you don’t know who these members are, the Charter for our church is at the end of the hallway before entering the Narthex. Our history is important and we hope that as we move through this time of celebration we will discover more about who we are as a community of faith. More importantly though; as we listen and learn may these stories, thoughts, and feelings challenge us to do even more in the future at Unity Moravian Church.
- Pastor Zimmerman |
|
