When Mary Beth went off to college two years ago it suddenly got very quiet at our house!  We were shocked at how little noise two adults and two dogs living in the same house made.  It is still quiet here but we have gotten used to it.  And, the great news for me is that Mary Beth calls almost everyday, so I still know all about her classes, friends and what is happening in her life.  Sometimes I need those phone calls to put a smile on my face.  When I am not available, Mary Beth calls Tom.  So we are both recipients of the joy of sharing her life long distance.

            Sunday morning I had the opportunity to worship at Chandler UMC.  Rev. Jeff McDonald asked me to come and preach to help them celebrate UMW Sunday.  Like many Methodist churches, Chandler has two different worship services and they are distinctly different.  The early service is in the Fellowship Hall in the part of the building that used to be the sanctuary.  There are several rows of chairs toward the front of the room but the rest of the seats are arranged around round tables.  The praise band was warming up as we walked in and Jeff and I joined them for a moment of prayer before the service began.  They asked me if I had any prayer concerns and I said, “Just that I don’t mess up.”  Their response was that they pray for that each week!

            As the room began to fill I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the folks were young, in their 20’s and 30’s, with lots of young children.  Some babies, toddlers and even teenagers.  In fact the praise band spanned the years – a couple of high school kids and people who, shall we say, were no longer teens!  Their music was vibrant and fun, and it was great to see several generations singing and worshiping together.  The music just set the stage for the entire service.  The crowd was involved in worship, the children were included and I left feeling really good about the future of the United Methodist Church in Chandler, Texas.

            The second service that morning was in the sanctuary.  There was organ music and the featured choir was all women, in celebration of UMW Sunday.  The worshipers were mostly older than those in the early service, but it was also a wonderful experience. One woman came up to me after the service and told me, with a wide smile on her face, that this was her first time at Chandler UMC.  She was there at the invitation of her son and his wife and children. 

            Her comment was in direct response to my message Sunday morning. In both services, I focused on the responsibility of the laity of our church to take church out of the building and invite others to join us.  I feel very strongly that if the United Methodist Church is going to grow again, it will be because the laity, in partnership with our clergy, find ways to celebrate how Christ works in our lives in such a visible way that others want to know what we have going on! 

            You can expect to hear more about this from me – both in my blog and in the upcoming District visits.  In case you haven’t already heard, Bishop Huie is visiting all of the districts in September.  The schedule has been set and I’m sure it will appear soon on the conference website.  The clergy and laity will be meeting separately so that you will all have to opportunity to speak your minds.  The main purpose for these visits is to hear from you.  Bishop Huie wants to know how things are going!  We’ve been through an incredible amount of change in the last few years.  So be thinking about what you want to share.  What is going well in your church or district?  What resources do you think the conference could provide to help things go better?  What needs to change for your church to be successful?  I plan to be with Bishop Huie and Rev. B.T. Williamson, our Assistant to the Bishop, at most of the meetings.  If you have thoughts you would like to share before the meeting, email me at tayleah@comcast.net.

            Here is the schedule for the Laity meetings:

Southeast District; Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Beaumont, Wesley UMC

South District; Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Pasadena FUMC

Central North District; Sept.15 at 7:00 p.m. The Woodlands UMC

Southwest District; Sept. 16 at 7:00 p.m. (no place set yet)

North District; Sept. 18 at 10:00 a.m. (no place set yet)

Central South District; Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Westbury UMC

Northwest District; Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m. Chandler UMC

East District; Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. Lufkin UMC

West District; Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. College Station, Aldersgate UMC

            Mark your calendars.  I hope to see you there!

Showers of Blessings!

Leah Taylor

            Two weeks ago the extended Cabinet met at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, for the first full Cabinet meeting since Annual Conference.  While the meeting was described as a retreat, we worked all day each day, getting ready for a new year in the life of the Texas Annual Conference.  As always, we began each day with worship.  Members of the Cabinet take turns leading worship for the group and it is a wonderful way to center ourselves and welcome the Holy Spirit into our midst.

            Before getting down to business, we spent time sharing with the group our summer adventures and what was going on in our personal lives.  I have found that as I work with people it helps me to hear about what is going on in their lives.  It gives me an understanding of how they are viewing each situation and what perspective they might be bringing to the discussion.

            A description of the current Cabinet is that we are each individually and as a group dedicated to being lifelong learners.  Each of our Center Leaders, District Superintendents and Bishop Huie are constantly reading books which challenge them to look at how they can do their jobs more efficiently, effectively and with a heart for how God is calling them each day.  At this meeting we discussed a book that we had all read, ­Leading from the Second Chair, by Mike Bonem and Roger Peterson.  While the book was written from the perspective of an executive or associate pastor, much of it has relevance for not only Cabinet members but most people in leadership within the United Methodist Church.  We spent some time discussing the book and how its teachings might influence how we each do our jobs.

            A unique aspect of this meeting was that several of us shared “book reports” on books that we have read recently, whether or not they were books with direct relevance to our jobs.  To see what the extended Cabinet is reading check out the following:

            Finest Hour, by Tim Clayton & Phil Craig (a historical look at the events of 1940)

            A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin H. Friedman (a look at qualities of leadership necessary today)

            Getting Naked, by Patrick Lencioni (a business fable about shedding the fears that sabotage relationship loyalty)

            Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour (learning to be a Palestinian Christian peacemaker in the Middle East)

            American Saint: Francis Asbury and the Methodists, by John Wigger (a biography of one of America’s leading religious voices)

            Three Cups of Tea; One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin (building schools in remote areas of Pakistan)

            Reading is one of my favorite past times.  I was one of those kids who read under the covers at night with a flashlight until I was caught by my mom!  I still read constantly, sometimes I have more than one book going at a time.  Sometimes I stay up way too late, like last night, because I just can’t put a book down.  So one more book I read this summer that is must read for all of us who lived through the Civil Rights era is The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.   Even if you are too young to remember the time of separate restrooms and water fountains, Ms. Stockett brings this period of time alive in a way that we can all learn from.

            At the end of our week in North Carolina, we spent two days in discussion with the extended Cabinets of the Western North Carolina and Baltimore-Washington Conferences.  It was a time of sharing and learning.  We heard about what these conferences are doing to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in their areas and we shared our experiences in Texas.  We found that we are all doing some of the same things but that we are all doing different things, too.  It was a great way to end a long week – food for thought as we begin again finding ways to welcome God’s kingdom here on earth.

Showers of blessings,

Leah Taylor    

            Saturday morning I was listening to National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition when I heard an interview with James McBride.  Although I haven’t read any of his books, McBride is apparently a well known author who is currently a Writer in Residence at New York University.  He was being interviewed by Scott Simon, host of Weekend Edition but not about any of his own work.  This past weekend marked the 50^th anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  As a current author, Simon was questioning McBride about his experience of the book.

            I remember reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” for the first time in school.  And, I remember reading it again when Mary Beth read it for the first time in school.  For years, the movie has been on television each year on Halloween.  I’ve never really understood that, but I love the movie and will watch it anytime it is featured.  Reading has been one of my loves for my entire life.  Usually books that are made into movies are a disappointment to me.  Somehow the pictures on the screen just don’t live up to  what I have already seen in my imagination.  Not so with “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  For me it is a powerful story translated in a powerful way onto the movie screen.  For me, Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch.

            During the interview, Simon asked McBride about Atticus Finch.  McBride used two phrases that really struck a cord with me.  He described Finch as a man who went about living his life with the “business of modesty” with an “ability to see tomorrow.”  He further described Finch as a Martin Luther King character who was persecuted for living his beliefs. 

            Working as Conference Lay Leader, I have come to know a great many men and women who serve us and God as clergy.  As May becomes June each year, I think about and pray for all of the clergy who are moving to new churches.  This year it was my own church that said goodbye to several of our pastors and welcomed two new clergy.  We celebrated retirements and experienced the sadness of saying goodbye.  We celebrated new beginnings and the happiness of new families joining us in our service to God in our community. 

            Last week in worship I realized that while the transition continues, the fanfare is over.  Now it is time to look at where God is leading us as a church without the parties and the celebrations.  Now is the time to get back to the real work of the church.  At St. Peter’s we express that as “Connecting the world with God’s love.”

            The majority of my clergy friends are people who are in the “business of modesty.”  These are people of good character who spend time trying to develop the “ability to see tomorrow” so that they can discern where God is leading us.  These are men and women who are living their call. Often I see them in situations where putting the church first impacts their families in ways that most of us would not choose.  Theirs is a sacrificial call which I witness them living unselfishly.

            So, now that it is July and our “new” pastors are becoming a part of what we expect, now that the Ice Cream Socials and welcome receptions are over, I think as laity we need to question our place in the church.  Yes, we need to support those who are cultivating the ability to see tomorrow.  But should we not also be going about the “business of modesty,” recognizing that all we do in our lives, each and every day, has the possibility of spreading the good news of the Gospel outside of the church?  What if we all tried to live our beliefs just the way that Atticus Finch did?   Just a thought.

Showers of blessings,

Leah Taylor 

            As always, Annual Conference was busy but uplifting.  The worship this year was incredible.  Hearing Dr.. Tom Long preach was a treat. I was very moved by Rev. Michelle Hall as she preached the Celebration of Life service.  Bishop Huie’s message during the Ordination service was inspirational.  And, now, more than a month later, I find myself thinking back to the stories we heard from Rev. Grace Imathiu. 

            After Annual Conference, Tom and I traveled with friends for ten days in France.  We saw the D Day beaches in Normandy and many of the sites that we have heard about our entire lives..  The emotional impact of the American Cemetery is not something I can describe.  Seeing the rows and rows of crosses and Stars of David really showed me the number of people who gave their lives so that we can live here, in the United States, the way we doA today.  Driving through the French countryside with our guide, we gained a new thankfulness for our country and all those who have served.

            We also saw the great cathedral at Rouen, the massive abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel, and the glories of both Notre Dame and St. Chappelle in Paris.  For me, it was like taking a step back in time to see the houses of worship from centuries ago.  These cavernous places of worship created in me a sense of awe.  Seeing the height of the arches, the details in the stone carvings and the glowing colors of the stained glass windows, I was entranced.  And, I felt my spirit being infused with the love of God!  It was a great trip.

            We had hardly had time to catch our breath back in Houston before I left for a meeting at Mt. Sequoyah in Arkansas.  All of the Conference Lay Leaders from our Jurisdiction (the South Central Jurisdiction) had time together.  We discussed our Annual Conference meetings and the themes that were lifted up in different places.  We talked about what we all have going on and what we are doing that is different and new.  We shared successes and even a few failures.  It is an exciting time to be active in the United Methodist Church!  Celebrating our connection and supporting each other has made this a special group for me.

            One amazing story that I was able to share was our Adopt-A-Student Program which is a part of our partnership with the United Methodist Church in Cote d’Ivoire.  Many of you saw the fabric which was made for us in Cote d’Ivoire.  We sold quite a bit of it at Annual Conference and we have lots more to sell.  As soon as we cover the expenses of making and shipping the fabric, all proceeds will go to the Adopt-A-Student program.  You’ll be hearing lots more about that over the next few months.  In the meantime, you can order fabric off of the Conference web site.  There are pictures of some of the items you might make with the fabric at www.txcumc.org/specialfabric.  The pictures are featured at the moment on the front page of the website.

            If you have a UMW group that sponsors a craft fair, let me know if you would consider selling fabric there.  And, if you are in the Houston area and have a sewing or quilting group, we need lots of help folding and cutting the fabric into manageable sized pieces. 

            Now that my summer travels are mostly behind me, I promise to be a more consistent correspondent.  In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying your summer.  As always, I would love to hear from you.

Showers of Blessings,

Leah Taylor

          When my baggage finally arrived, Sam passed me off to Valentine Amonkou for safe delivery to my hotel.  Valentine not only took me to the hotel, she helped me check in and then escorted me to my room to make sure that it was well prepared.  As I filled in the forms at the hotel reception desk, Valentine and I discovered that we have the same Birthday — right down to the same year!  From that moment on Valentine was not just “ma soeur” (my sister), she was also “ma jumelle,” my twin! 

          For the rest of my stay in Cote d’Ivoire, Valentine was my almost constant companion.  The reason for my visit was to attend the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Methodist Schools of Cote d’Ivoire.  Valentine is the Director of Operations for all of the Methodist Schools.  She taught for many years before she began working for the Methodist Church of Cote d’Ivoire.  Her English is impeccable and she seems to know everything there is to know about all of the schools owned, planned or even dreamed of by the Eglise Methodistes de Cote d’Ivoire. 

          All day Tuesday and Wednesday, Valentine acted as my guide through the best and the worst schools.  She introduced me to the teachers, administrators and pastors working within each school. The adults on each campus showed us their accomplishments and their places for improvement.  But of course, the highlight each place was the children.

          The first school I visited was a primary school located in the heart of Abidjan, which is the capital of Cote d’Ivoire.  The school is on the same property as the Ministry of Education and it is a show place.  As I climbed out of the car, I was met by the school director and the pastor in charge of ministers serving all of the schools.  But as I shook hands with them, a tiny little girl, who couldn’t have been more than three years old, placed a huge bouquet of exotic flowers into my arms.  The bouquet was larger than the child, and although the flowers were gorgeous, they couldn’t hold a candle to the preciously shy face gazing up at me.  I was hooked immediately.

          As I stepped into the school yard gates, I was surrounded by clapping children!  It made me think of the pictures of Princess Diana when we used to see her on the news, surrounded by children and flowers wherever she went.  The kids were arranged by age — the youngest to the oldest — and they were all clapping and smiling.  I wanted to stop and hug each one.  The warm welcome then lead to a tour of the whole facility.  Our first stop was in the preschool room where the children were playing instruments in welcome.  They shyly showed me how to play the xylophone-type chimes and then displayed their artwork.  It reminded me of the preschool class my daughter attended at St. Peter’s Early Childhood Development Center sixteen years ago!

          In the kindergarten class, I was treated to a music and dance concert.  In just a few minutes, I caught the rhythm and was clapping and dancing right along with them.  It wasn’t a song I knew, but it reminded me strongly of our preschool favorite, “Father Abraham.”

          The first graders were practicing their writing — on small chalk boards with white chalk.  Not a single sheet of paper or a pencil could be seen in the classroom.  But when I asked them what they were reading they all pulled out their workbooks to show me.  As I made the rounds of the room, I stopped randomly and flipped through the books.  I would ask the child what the word was for a picture and then I would say, “On Anglais, nous disons ____!”  They were waving their workbooks in the air, anxious for a chance to show off their skills.  When I got to one little boy, I saw in his book a picture of a duck, in French, “canard.”  When I said to the class, “In English we say Duck!” a peal of laughter erupted from them all.

          Before I left the class, I wrote my name and address on the chalkboard and their teacher promised me that they would write me a letter.  When it comes, I will share it with you!

          For the next two days, I experienced the schools, a hospital and an orphanage.  I visited a construction site which by September or October should be a preschool, primary and secondary school.  It is in an area of Abidjan which is growing so it will probably open with a pretty full complement of students.

          At Dabou Hospital I visited with the first work team from the Texas Annual Conference.  A group of about a dozen dedicated Methodists, from Christ Church, Sugarland; Chapelwood UMC and Prairie View A&M, were busy refurbishing three hospital rooms.  As I met with them, they were gathered around the lunch table, taking a well deserved break.  They were sweaty, dirty and smiling!

          At the Board meeting on Thursday afternoon, the group discussed the financing of the schools.  One of the many things I learned on this trip was that although the schools run by the Methodist Church are some of the best in the country and parents send their children from long distances to attend them, not a single one is completely self-sustaining financially.  The government is supposed to supplement the schools, but because of the disarray in the government and continual crises of one form or another, that supplement is often late, incomplete or nonexistent.

          Working with the Methodist schools in Cote d’Ivoire is one of the primary aims of our partnership with the Ivorian Methodist Church.  Last year at Annual Conference, we adopted the “Adopt-a-Student” program to help children stay in school.  Some of you have already started contributing to the program.  As a member of the Board of Directors of the United Methodist schools of Cote d’Ivoire, completing the design of the program, then implementing and marketing it will be my main focus in my work with the Partnership. 

          At Annual Conference, I’ll be introducing you to my twin, Valentine Amonkou, who will come to us to talk about “her” schools.  Valentine will have with her some of the gorgeous items made in Cote d’Ivoire that you’ll be able to purchase. 

          An exciting part of our support of the schools is the fabric that the Ivorians have made which represents the Texas Annual Conference!  It is a field of bluebonnets which features a state of Texas and the cross and flame logo of the United Methodist Church.  You can see the fabric and a few of the items you might make with it at http://www.txcumc.org/specialfabric.  We plan to sell the fabric at Annual Conference.  Once we get it through U.S. Customs, I’ll have more details for you.

          One of the my most lasting impressions of Cote d’Ivoire is the immense contrast I saw just driving through the streets.  There I was, sitting in the back of my air conditioned car, watching women in traditional dress carry produce to market on their heads.  Men were pulling heavy carts loaded with items for sale or construction and across the street I saw three young women, sitting under a shade shelter, texting away on their cell phones.  I saw men making concrete bricks by packing the wet cement into the forms by hand.  Next to them was a shack where parts for toilets and other plumbing necessities were for sale.  You can buy beautiful furniture on the side of the road, but right next to it are huge piles of garbage. At the edge of a lush, protected national forest, right on the outskirts of Abidjan, I saw vibrantly colored bougainvillea cascading across the landscape, right next to shacks where laundry was hanging out to dry, right next to a Shell gas station.

          But the most vivid picture I have in my mind are those children — countless little faces looking at me with joy and hope.  We can make a real difference in the lives of these children, you and I!  And when we do, we’ll truly be working toward God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Showers of Blessings,

Leah Taylor

            Do you ever feel like things in your life are spinning out of control?   Like the more you plan, the less control you have over the events that occur?  Like you start the day going in one direction and at the end of the day you are someplace you never planned to be and may not even recognize?

            All of these statements describe the way I have felt about my life lately.  There are things happening that I want to control … but I can’t.  There are plans I have made … that never happen.  There are places that I want to go … but I’m not anywhere I recognize.

            Most days I start with God’s word as a part of my devotional.  Last week one morning this statement from 2 Corinthians was the jumping off point of the author’s thoughts.  As I read her thoughts, it struck me that if I can focus on what is unseen, each difficult day will be easier.  And, as I have ruminated on that idea, as I have looked for the unseen, I have found in myself a greater sense of peace, even with the wild, unsettled, emotional time through which I am living.

            Last weekend, I had the opportunity to spend three days with my dearest friend, doing nothing but relaxing and pampering ourselves together.  We had fabulous massages, ate great food, slept late and just generally chilled.  Looking back over our weekend I am so grateful that we gave each other the greatest gift we could — the gift of our time.  We decided about a year ago that although we see each other pretty regularly, we are usually with our husbands and families.  So instead of exchanging gifts for any occasions, we gave each other time — one weekend together, away from home. 

            All this week as I have settled back into real life, as things have gotten hectic and a little crazy, I have sent my mind back to this time.  The real gift of our time together was our friendship.  The acceptance of each other, warts and all!  You can’t see that but it is so real.

            My mom is an amazing person.  For most of my life she has been my rock.  Now, watching her age and go through difficult and painful decisions, I am reminded of the constancy of her love in my life.  Even as our roles have somewhat become reversed, I remember always knowing that Mom was there for me.  You can’t see a mother’s love, but you can bet it is real.

            Monday at lunch, I heard Koffi Annan speak eloquently about his view of the world.  He talked about the situation in the Middle East and how complicated the politics of that region have become.  He talked about the economic crisis which had effected every country in the world and the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Haiti and Argentina.  Clearly this is a brilliant man who has thought deeply and long about complex issues. But what I brought home with me were his thoughts about kindness.  Mr. Annan talked about the world religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity and how we all shared the same Golden Rule.  Kindness is certainly one of those things that you cannot see, but you can certainly feel its presence.

            As these thoughts have rolled around in my mind I have realized that these things which are unseen but real are truly more important than the “things”  we have.  The gifts of the spirit are gifts we feel compelled to share.   When we reach out to others with our time, love and kindness, we often receive more than we actually give!

            Yesterday as I received the news that Rev. Cynthia Harvey will be leaving our Conference to head up UMCOR, I was filled with mixed emotions.  It is certainly a wonderful gift for Cynthia to share her many talents for ministry with the General Board of Global Ministries.  And, for those of us who have been blessed to know her, we know that this work will certainly reflect her heart!  Personally though, I am so sad to see her go.  I know that is selfish but in the few years that I have had the pleasure of working with Cynthia, her love and kindness have been a gift to me.

            Hearing of Cynthia’s new job, my own sense of personal loss was quickly followed by great memories of Cynthia and the times we have shared.  Memories are yet another example of things we can’t see, but we all have.

            2 Corinthians 4:18 is paraphrased in the Message to say, “There’s far more here than meets the eye.  The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.  But for the things we can’t see now will last forever.”  Food for thought.

Showers of Blessings,

Leah Taylor

            Sitting in the pew (yes, the same one where we always sit) and listening to Dan, I was struck not only by the richness of his message, but also by his ability to change at the last minute.  Most clergy whom I know spend many, many hours praying, planning and working on their sermons before we ever hear them preached.  Knowing Dan, I know that he does this, too.  On the few occasions when I have preached, I am constantly amazed that our clergy brothers and sisters can do this every week.  The Bible, of course, tells many stories and there are probably as many interpretations of the stories as there are readers. So there is always good material to start with.  I know that I can read the same stories at different times in my life and take away different thoughts and lessons, depending on what is happening with me.  Not only do many of our clergy spend lots of time and energy preparing sermons every week, the energy it takes to deliver them well is something I never appreciated until I had to do it.  Exhaustion is what I usually feel following my times in the pulpit.  Yes, I do feel an incredible sense of accomplishment when people tell me afterwards that I did a good job or that they really appreciated my words.  But after that, I’m tired!

            Thinking about Dan changing his message literally at the last minute Sunday is astonishing to me. But then this morning, laying in bed before my alarm went off, I had a sense that I needed to change the content of this blog entry for this week. Usually I write these after writing them in my mind before I every sit down at my computer.  The final product gets worked on as I drive, walk my dogs, and even sometimes as I exercise.  For this week, I was getting pretty close to finalizing my thoughts before writing them down. 

            When I sat down with my devotional this morning, I finally got the message.  Part of it read, “You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual presence.  The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes.  I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  The scripture reading was Hebrews 13:8, “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

            There are no cataclysmic changes in my life or in the life of St. Peter’s.  But there are lots of changes!  Our Senior Pastor, Dan Miller, is retiring.  Being a part of the United Methodist Church, a new Senior Pastor has been appointed to come be in ministry with us.  We have other changes happening as well. As Methodists, we know that these things happen, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it, right?

            Now that I have the opportunity to work with the Cabinet, I understand much better how this appointment process works.  Having been through the process twice before at St. Peter’s I have grieved with the rest of the church watching well-loved pastors go and unknown pastors come.  But never before have I seen a change of appointment happen with so much excitement and anticipation.  And here is why.

             Please understand that I do not participate in the appointment process.  I never know who is going where until the formal announcement is made.  But I do know that our Bishop and Cabinet members work incredibly hard to send the right minister to the right church and mission field to do God’s work.  And they don’t do this work in a vacuum!  All of their work is clothed in prayer.  Never are decisions made precipitously.  Appointments are considered, discussed, prayed about and then considered again!  Although the whole process is complicated, it is a process carried out with God at its center.

            So why am I excited about the changes coming to my church and other churches welcoming new clergy leaders?  Because every time we have had a change at St. Peter’s, we have been blessed by the gifts that person brought to us.  Each of them has been different, each has become well-loved in their tenure with us, and we have grown in our faith as a church with each new appointment.  All of their preaching styles have been different, their leadership styles have been different, their personalities have been different.  But their commitment to God, the United Methodist Church and St. Peter’s has been deep.  And each of them has shared their spiritual journeys with us as we have walked that road together.

            As Dan leaves us to move into his next phase of ministry (no, just because he is retiring I don’t think God is finished with him), I am sad that I won’t see him regularly anymore.  But I know that with the impact he has had on my life, the life of my family and St. Peter’s, he will remain a part of my life.

            As we prepare to welcome Don Smith and his family to St. Peter’s, I am confident that we will find spiritual adventures ahead of us as we walk together down this road.

            Change has never been something I have done easily.  But as I woke this morning thinking about Dan’s flexibility on Sunday, feeling moved to change my focus, reading the words of Hebrews 13:8, I know that I can change because God never does!  In this season of change within our church, I hope you will find comfort in those words as well.

Showers of Blessings!

Leah Taylor

            Then, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the newly formed Boards of the Dabou Hospital and Schools, as well as the radio station, will be trained and have their first official meetings.  Bishop Huie and Rev. Rick Goodrich, Assistant to the Bishop, have been planning these meetings and training sessions with Samuel Koffi, the Assistant to Bishop Boni, in Cote d’Ivoire.  The thought of serving on the Board for the schools had me flying high, emotionally that is.

            For weeks, I have been planning this trip.  What would I wear, how should I pack, what kinds of souvenirs would I bring home for which friends… I’ve been trying to brush up on my limited French.  I went and got my shot record checked and started taking my anti-malaria medicine.  My wonderful husband, Tom, made all my travel arrangements.  He booked my flights and set up a car to pick me up yesterday afternoon.

            Thursday and Friday morning were a frenzy of activities.  Had I done everything on my “To Do” list?  Making sure that Tom knew where the cleaning coupons were, had the name and phone number of the dryer repair man, knew where our new vet is; all of those things that happen in our everyday lives that would continue in my absence.

            When I got into the car yesterday afternoon, I had the most fascinating driver.  He shared his stories with me from the time he spent in the army in Orleans, France, during the Viet Nam war era.  He was in communications, a cryptographer, and described a time for me when the troops went on a worldwide alert.  We talked about our travels and shared family stories.  His two grand daughters, who live in Dallas, are coming to spend Spring Break with he and his wife.  They are planning to spoil those little girls mightily before sending them back home.  He is planning outings to the zoo and Children’s Museum, Galveston and Kemah.  Sounded like great fun!

            When I got to the airport, the young man at check-in was just great.  He helped me figure out how to make sure my bags got checked all the way to Abidjan which was a little tricky since I was flying two different airlines.  Somehow we started talking about Abidjan and he told me he grew up there!  His mom still lives there and she teaches school.  He gave me her name and said if I needed anything just to call her.  He let me practice my bad French as we talked.  Of course the airport was packed with Spring Breakers, but in the midst of that crowd, he was just such a blessing.  What a great way to start my trip!

            The trouble started when I got to the gate.  Boarding time of 2:40 was pushed back to a status report on the plane at 3:00.  At 3:30 we learned that the plane was experiencing mechanical difficulties and diagnosis was still underway.  At 5:00, the gate attendants gave out meal vouchers and at 5:30 they wheeled out a cart of drinks and snacks.  The time for making my connection in Paris to the Abidjan flight was getting very tight.  I hiked over to the Air France desk, in a different terminal, to see about moving to a later flight.  No, they said, the ticket that I had to Abidjan was a 30-day advance ticket and allowed no changes.  No, if I paid for the new ticket to Abidjan I could not use the ticket home from Abidjan to Paris.  No, they would not give me credit for the purchase price of the ticket.  No, they would not work with Continental to fix this situation.  No, there was no way to use the ticket on the trip to Abidjan if I agreed to go on the flight with the six hour layover in Tunis.

            When I got back to the Continental gate, the gate agent announced that the mechanical difficulties were continuing and there would be another announcement at 7:00.  At 7:00 it became clear that the flight to Paris was not going anywhere.  There was talk of putting people up at hotels and bringing in a new plane in the morning. 

            I don’t know how the situation was ultimately resolved.  When it became clear that there was no way I would make my flight to Abidjan and that a last minute ticket to Abidjan the following day was cost-prohibitive, I asked to have my bag retrieved and Tom came to pick me up.  Eight hours later, I was back at home, unpacking my bags, never having left Houston.

            What a day!  We, the Taylors, love to travel and we do it as much as we can.  Never in all of our trips has this ever happened to me before.  The good news for me is that I live in Houston and I was able to just come home.  Mary Beth is home for the beginning of Spring Break and we will all enjoy our time together.  The weather here today is perfect.  We will do some yard work, take the dogs for a walk and have a great day.

            In the meantime, I will be praying for God to work wonders in Cote d’Ivoire this next week.  The consecration of the radio station will happen tomorrow during worship.  The training and meetings of the boards will go on as planned, in my absence.  I’ve always heard the saying “God works in mysterious ways.”  Yesterday was certainly a mystery to me!  Please join me in prayers for our Bishop and Bishop Boni, for Rick Goodrich and Samuel Koffi, for all the people in Cote d’Ivoire who are training and working on those governing boards, and for all the people who will be touched by the work going on in the radio station, hospital and schools. 

Showers of Blessings!

Leah Taylor

The Laity of the Texas Annual Conference

Living our faith, sharing our hope

            Two weeks ago I spent four days in Philadelphia at the meeting of the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders.  Although I have attended this event before, never has it contained such a rich volume of information for me to bring home, think about and share with you.  Several wonderful things have emerged from this group.  Although we talk often about the United Methodist connection, I have really felt it at work with this group of people.  A strong bond has been developing between those of us who are Conference Lay Leaders in the South Central Jurisdiction.  Last summer, we started a weekly email prayer.  Each of us took a week and prayed for each other by name.  We wrote the prayer and emailed it to the whole group.  As a consequence of our meeting in Philadelphia, we have enlarged our prayer commitment to pray not just for the lay leaders but for one Bishop a week by name.  Also, we have adopted the Conference Lay Leader from Zimbabwe as an honorary member of the South Central Jurisdiction team.  Betty Skatiyo was the only Lay Leader from the Central Conferences who attended the meeting in Philadelphia.  So Betty and her Bishop will become a part of our prayer bond.

            It was just amazing to hear from so many jurisdictions and conferences about what they are working on and where their efforts are focused.  Because of the work of our Council of Bishops and the 2008 General Conference, there is a common language seeping into our conversations.  The common mission, “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” permeates all discussions.  The Three Simple Rules; “Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God,” undergird all that we are about as a global church.  And, discussion of the Four Areas of Focus provide a framework for us to look into the future — as a denomination, jurisdictions, conferences and yes, local churches.  Just as a reminder, the Four Areas of Focus are:

            1.  Developing principled Christian leaders

            2.  Creating new churches and renewing existing ones

            3.  Engaging in ministry with the poor

            4.  Stamping out killer diseases of poverty by improving global health

            All of our meetings in Philadelphia took place in the context of great change which is occurring in each and every aspect of the United Methodist Church.  In the wake of the 2008 General Conference, each US jurisdiction is reducing by one Episcopal area.  Many conferences are in the process of redistricting and going through reorganization processes similar to the one we embarked on here in Texas in 2005.   And many, if not most, of the conferences have embraced and are teaching and living into the Five Practices of Fruitful Conversations. 

            Then, last week, I spent two days at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.  Wow, what an amazing place!  We went on a tour of the two large buildings (an extreme understatement) and saw the incredible ministry happening within and outside of the church.  As we toured the facilities, Rev. Adam Hamilton stressed several times that nothing is built for just one purpose.   Part of the tour was a look backward at what certain parts of the buildings were used for in the past.  Part of the tour was how the rooms are currently being used and part of the explanation was the future plan for each space.  Not only does Church of the Resurrection have thousands of members who attend one of the many church services occurring on campus, there is also a growing group of people who attend church faithfully over the internet.  When I left the meeting, my shuttle bus driver to the airport was a member of the church.  He told me about his sister-in-law who now lives in an assisted living community not far from the church.  She is a member of the church and started a group that attends church, each Sunday, from the assisted living community.  They attend together and then discuss the service — just like a Sunday School class might in many of our local churches.  Pretty heady stuff!

            Finally, last Friday I traveled to Fort Worth for Mom’s Weekend!  Can you hear the smile coming through my fingers?  What a joy it is to spend time with my beautiful daughter as she grows into a lovely young woman.  Part of the weekend was Mary Beth’s sorority Fashion Show.  A number of years ago, the Alpha Chi Omega chapter at TCU decided to focus their philanthropic work on the Fort Worth Women’s Center.  Each year, they raise money by selling tickets to the fashion show which is supported by many retailers in the area, raffling off prizes donated for that purpose, and a silent auction of a cornucopia of unbelievable baskets of goodies.  The women of Alpha Chi Omega do all the work.  They start in the fall when the entire chapter spreads out across Fort Worth businesses looking for sponsors to supply in-kind gifts, sponsorships and support of every kind.  This year the sorority raised more than $34,000!  Quite an accomplishment for women aged 18-22.  At the end of the fashion show, the representative talked about what a difference the contribution of time, money and talent these young women make in the work of the Fort Worth Women’s Center.  There was hardly a dry eye in the house.

            As the events of these past two weeks have unfolded, I have been continually reminded of how God is at work in all of these things!  The meetings, the discussions, the efforts of young women to reach out to others…what a world we live in.  God is good…Everyday!

Showers of Blessings,

Leah Taylor

            The only good part of following Rev. Ross was that my participation in the conference was during worship.  So my words were bookended by the beautiful organ music and gifted singing at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.  The two hymns that we sang are not only some of my favorites, they are uniquely appropriate for equipping and empowering laity to serve in ministry.  We opened with “What Gift Can We Bring,” and we closed with “Lord, You Give the Great Commission.” 

            My message was centered on laity in ministry being evangelists.  For those of you who know me, you know that for me this is one of my most deeply held beliefs.  I believe that when a lay person is equipped and empowered to serve in an area where their heart is engaged, they will become passionate!  And when someone becomes passionate, they tend to feel filled to overflowing.  When the Spirit overflows, you just can’t help talking about it.  I do believe that you can be an effective evangelist in some situations by living the gospel.  But I also believe that as lay people we need to learn to talk about our faith.  We need to know the words to tell those who do not yet know Christ in their lives, how Christ works in our lives.  We need to know how to speak our faith in words of love and inclusion.

            Sunday at St. Peter’s, Rev. Dan Miller preached an incredible sermon about God’s call to ordained ministry.  He spoke eloquently about his call and how it made him feel.  And he shared his enthusiasm for discerning that call and with the hope that others in our congregation might feel that call now.  Dan shared with us in January his plans to retire at Annual Conference this year.  Listening to his sermon on Sunday, I felt like God was reaching through Dan to our congregation, letting us know that even as Dan moves to a different part of his ministry, God is calling others into the ministry of being set apart, ordained ministry.

            At the end of our worship service on Sunday, we sang “Here I Am, Lord.”  At my house, we call this the “crying song.”  Something about the words to this hymn touches me every time we sing it.  I used to be embarrassed but then, a number of years ago, I looked around me and saw several others who were similarly impacted.  Sunday, as we sang, I saw tears in many eyes around me. 

            For me this was a wonderful weekend.  Hearing a powerful speaker like Rev. Ross confirm for me the reality and rightness of my “call” to lay ministry and then hearing Dan speak about the power felt by those who are called to ordained ministry just felt right.   I am clear that I am not called to ordination.  I am clear that God’s call on my life is serious and special; it fills me and compels me to serve.  And, I’m clear that the many clergy whom I know and have the opportunity to serve with have experienced a different call on their lives.  Mostly, I am proud to be part of a church that embraces the reality that we, clergy or laity, are all called to help God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Showers of blessings!

Leah Taylor