Learning to See the Work of God Knowing the Story & Seeing the Patterns

Plenty of Resources ? How do we choose faithfully?

1822 New England Districts Charges New London (CT/RI/MA) 15 Boston, MA 14 New Hampshire 10 Vermont 9 Portland, ME Kennebeck, ME 12 Penobscot, ME 6

1863 Districts Charges  East Maine Bangor 28   Bucksport 31 Rockland 37  Maine Lewiston 34 Portland 47 Readfield 23  New England Boston 39 Lynn 41 Springfield Worcester Districts Charges   New Hampshire Claremont 36 Concord 39 Dover  Providence New London, CT 54 Providence, RI 44 Sandwich, MA 43  Vermont Burlington 23 Danville 27 Montpelier 25 Springfield St. Albans 33

Seeing God at Work

Downward Spiral Late 20th Century American Church Membership Declining Churches Closing Trouble maintaining buildings No youth = no young pastors who can go to seminary What people talk about at Church Council What people talk about at coffee hour NCD – uninspiring worship, tepid spirituality, disempowered leadership, ministry full of “should” – parents “should” teach Sunday School Members disconnected from one another Congregation disconnected from community Spiritual but not religious – aversion from/discomfort with church Downward Spiral Late 20th Century American Church

Seeing God at Work

Wesley’s Way of Salvation The Backbone of the Great Awakenings Unawake Anxious Justified Sanctified Christian Perfection Backsliders

Non-violent Communication Marshall Rosenberg Non-violent Communication Benjamin Zander The Art of Possibility

Double Predestination Heaven Reward A+ Good Double Predestination Judgement “Shoulds” Baptize the baby as soon as possible Come to worship every Sunday Give your money Social justice Pay apportionments Take in new professing members DEMANDS Fear Guilt, Shame Blame Evil F- Punishment Hell

All sin and fall short of the glory of God = grace Creation - Eden “The Land I will show you” Canaan Zion Kingdom of God Cross the Jordan New Jerusalem Wedding Banquet Abundance Beloved Child of God = A All sin and fall short of the glory of God = grace Love God and Neighbor Shalom – well being Harmony Requests - Free Will Perfect Love

Grace - The Work of God – Way of Salvation Word - Communication Blessing – It is Good, very Good Reboot - Noah Covenant Animal Sacrifice Commandments/Law Incarnation God’s Death and Resurrection - Unstoppable Story

UMC Basic Pattern of Worship Entrance – Stop – Gather – Set Apart Proclamation and Response – Look/Listen Thanksgiving /Communion- Look/Listen/Inward Response Sending Forth - Go/Outward Response Scripture, tradition, reason, experience (of God at work) Faith -> Function -> Form Form follows function Function follows faith More Guidance for Choices

Local Church Visit

God’s Time Church History and Worship The Theology of the Christian Year

God’s Time Part I: Church History and Worship

Jesus – 313 AD Early Church Rome Goal Re-creation Body of Christ Character Informal/private House churches Universal/Catholic Simple singing Praying Scripture Preaching Communion Baptisms Word and Sacrament Jesus – 313 AD Early Church Rome

Constantine 313 AD Holy Roman Empire Popes and Emperors Creeds Bible Parishes Dioceses Violent forced baptisms Benedict 530 Francis 1208 Ignatious 1540 Monasticism Christendom Fear – Superstition – Latin – Clericalism Sacrament over Word Oppression - indulgences

East/West Split Islam 610 1054

Reformation 30 Years War 1618-1638 Counter Reformation King Henry VIII 1532 30 Years War 1618-1638 Martin Luther 1517 Calvin/Reformed 1530s Counter Reformation

United Kingdom Church of England Catholic Dissenters Presbyterian – Church of Scotland Church of Ireland Church of England Dissenters Puritan Quaker Catholic Baptist Methodist Unitarian

George Whitfield Field Preaching Conference District Circuit Society Class Field Preaching

Colonizing North America Pilgrims, Puritans, Congregationalists – MA, CT, NH Baptist – RI – Roger Williams - Freedom Dutch Reformed Presbyterians - NJ Quakers – Pennsylvania - William Penn - Freedom Catholics – Maryland – Lord Baltimore Church of England – Virginia Lutherans, Moravians, Scotch Irish – Appalachia, Carolinas ------------- Baptists Methodists Mennonites Amish

New England

Methodist Immigrants

John Wesley Sends Methodist Preachers

Revival/ Pentecostal Pattern Field Preaching Camp Meetings Revival/ Pentecostal Pattern Greeting Music (rhythmic) Call/response Preaching Exhortations Emotional High Altar Call with music Goal Conversion, Sanctification, Reclaiming Backsliders Awaken to the Work of God - union Character – technical excellence – enthusiasm, African influence, emotional

American Born Methodist Preachers Jesse Lee Richard Allen Harry Hoosier Freeborn Garrittson

Christmas Conference 1784

Christian Bible not privileged Universal Salvation Christian Bible not privileged

Black Church Adventists Wesleyans Nazarenes Pentecostals A. M. E. Zion – New York A.M. E. – Philadelphia Wesleyans Nazarenes Pentecostals

Methodist Split Temperance Dancing Smoking Prayer Tithing Personal Holiness Social Holiness Temperance Dancing Smoking Prayer Tithing Personal experience of salvation Reject Enlightenment thinking Abolition Temperance Suffrage Labor Rights Poverty Civil Rights War Social Gospel = Salvation Embrace Enlightenment thinking

Sunday School Movement Goal Enlightenment – Read the Bible Christian Character Character of Worship Educational - moral Standard Lessons Opening Exercises Devotional Reading Theme of the Day Program Announcements Dismissal

Prosperity, Modern Theology, Aesthetics

Vatican II Full, Active & Conscious Participation

World Council of Churches Liturgical Renewal

Chronos

Kairos - Eternity

Theology of the Christian Year God’s Time Part 2 Theology of the Christian Year

Christian Calendar When the Eternal Enters Our Chronos See book of worship pp. 224-420 Advent – Christmas – Epiphany Lent – Easter - Pentecost Ordinary Time UM Special Sundays etc. See book of worship pp. 422 When the Eternal Enters Our Chronos

Full, Active & Conscious Enacting the Drama of Our Salvation

Prayer - Vertical Habits

Designing Worship for Your Appointment