Mark your calendar for next year…the weekend after Mother’s Day.

submitted by Joel Hawkins, Children’s Ministry Director

Guest post by CUMC staff member Laura Greenwell, Assistant to Executive Pastor Scott Lees

What happens when you get 2500 people representing 49 states and 30 countries, all who are passionate about Christ and his children? You have an incredible experience that you will never forget. This is how I feel about attending the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit last week. I am forever changed.

My life has been touched by adoption and foster care. We have three adopted children and were foster parents to six children.  It is a blessing and a challenge that requires much. I don’t have much, but what I do have is Jesus! He gives me strength and power and love, each and every day.

At the summit, we heard incredible speakers, had breakout sessions that were so informative, worshipped with great music, laughed and cried during testimonies like these:

• a 19-year-old adoptee from Romania who played Amazing Grace on the guitar —  with his feet!  He was born without arms and in his country, birth defects were believed to be a curse. His family abandoned him, and he was adopted by a family in the United States;
• Bishop from Possum Trot, Texas shared how he adopted two children and went on to advocate for local foster children in the area. As a result, more than 75 children were adopted into families. This is a tiny town!

What I learned is that God uses the most unlikely people to carry out His kingdom work. You do not have to be wealthy or wise. You have to be willing!  God can do incredible things through you. Will you step out in faith and answer his calling?  It doesn’t mean you have to adopt. There are a thousand ways that you can make a difference in the life of a child, both locally and internationally.

>>Learn more at www.cumcmemphis.org/orphancare.

Laura Greenwell

Guest post written by Cheryl Sarfas, Ministry Assistant in Music & Worship

“Senior adults ministering to senior adults” is a phrase often heard from music director Perry Redfearn when asked about the First Generation Singers, a senior adult choir based at Christ United Methodist Church. The group of approximately 30 members integrates CUMC congregants and singers from the local community, including those from area churches such as Asbury United Methodist, First Baptist of Memphis, and Trinity United Methodist. Some members have been involved for a short time, while others have sung in the group for many years, but there is an open invitation to all senior adults who enjoy singing and ministering as a group.

“It brings me joy when I see audience members’ eyes brighten when they recognize familiar songs and recall memories that might be attached to those songs,” said longtime First Generation Singer Janet Templeton. Song repertoire can cover everything from sacred songs to show tunes, as long as it is “music people relate to and know.”

Serving as president of the group, Janet is the first to admit it’s not always easy keeping the busy schedule. The choir rehearses every Thursday morning before boarding the church bus and grabbing lunch along the way to a 2 p.m. performance at a designated nursing home, assisted living facility or adult day care center. Janet coordinates with local senior living facilities to fill the schedule which can cover up to 20 performances in a season. “What keeps me going is that I know that even though we’re singing to people we don’t know, what we are doing is meaningful,” she said. “And being senior adults ourselves, we see the importance of this ministry as it inspires us to move beyond our own challenges in order to minister to others.”

>>Experience the music of the First Generation Singers at CUMC in Wilson Chapel on Monday, May 20, at 1 p.m. following the Senior Adult luncheon. The $5 luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. in Seabrook Hall, so please make lunch reservations by May 13 with Ashley Parks, 261-2153.

2012-13 season:  First Generation Singers: Laura Barry-Wilder, Diane Baskin, Helen Boyd, Donna Brewer, Jill Buckmaster, Nancy Burch, Virginia Cortese, June Davidson, Myra Finch, Doris Gill, Yvonne Hammer, Wally Harris, Geneva Jackson, Gloria McDaniel, Sandra Overbey, Ann Ross, Julia Saller, Bill Seddens, Flo Seward, Kathleene Sims, Mary Ann Sturdivant, Jim Swett, Janet Templeton, Earline Thomas, Debbie Williams, Roger Williams

“Our appreciation goes to everyone in Memphis and at CUMC that contributed toward these meals!” exclaims Edna Phiri in an email to CUMC (photos courtesy of MMI). CUMC member and Christ Feeds steering committee member  Steve Maroda says, “Christ Church is privileged to be able to come alongside MMI in the great ministry they provide to the Chainda community. What a blessing!”

Christ Feeds IV is set for October 19 so mark the date and get ready to fill another container…

“For I was hungry and you fed me” –Matthew 25:35

These passages find Jesus teaching the disciples to be His body through community.

Care is not simply about hospital visiting and prayer, it’s about doing life together, going deeper and living out Jesus’ teaching together.

John Wesley talked about three levels of church organization:

1. Congregation
2. Classes
3. Bands (small groups)

We experience God’s Kingdom best through relationships that lead us to Him, as we care and are cared for. Intentional relationships happen best with like-minded people; those who share our journey toward God. It’s not enough to come to church; we must be intentional in caring for one another.

Jesus teaches us three things:

1. If we are to be His disciples, we must commit ourselves to caring for one another. Scientific studies show that those who are in healthy religious communities live longer and are happier.
2. From commitment must come courtesy and respect; faithfulness in good times and bad. What would the world be like if all Christians gave one another the benefit of the doubt, as God has done for us?
3. Relationships require cultivation. He gathers His disciples to teach them and to love them. It takes time and effort. It’s not about the next step; it’s about the next 1000 steps.

The best picture of Jesus is when we love and serve each other despite our differences and limitations.

Click to watch video of today’s service.

Our Special Needs Ministry offers a weekly Sunday school class and activities throughout the year for special needs children and their families. In addition to providing programming, we also assist other churches in starting Special Needs Ministries and providing resources for families in their congregation.

“We want our community to know that Christ Church supports them and their families,” said Ashley Parks, Special Needs Ministry director. “We would love to see CUMC be a special needs hub for their families where they can learn about Christ as a ‘whole’ family and find valuable community resources for their children in the process. If we’re not the right place for them, we will help them find the right place.”

On a recent Friday night, more than 50 organizations and churches came together for Memphis Bridges the Gap, a resource marketplace for families with special needs children of all ages and disabilities. Sponsored by Christ Church, Young Life Memphis Capernaum and Second Presbyterian Church’s Special Friends Ministry, the evening allowed parents to share ideas, advice and encouragement and learn about resources available to them.

Rev. Shane Stanford spoke on the importance of the church as a whole helping our special needs families, and Nancy and Hamp Holcomb shared the challenges and joys of raising their son Jay who had spina bifida.

While parents were in Seabrook Hall, Parents Night Out and Young Life Capernaum Club offered activities for kids.

Ashley has received lots of positive feedback about the evening and hopes it becomes an annual event.

I had my passion re-ignited to be an advocate again because I see the need and love the new things in our community. –Brenda Hale

I just want to say that y’all are awesome! … We made lots of contacts as well for our camp and our family. Keep up the great work in helping these families. –Mark Price

Wow! What an event! … I thought I was pretty plugged in to the disability community as I still work with some kids who have special needs, but I was introduced to some new programs that are offering much-needed services. This was a blessing to families who need to know services that are available. It was an incredible evening. –Jean Phebus

To learn more about the Special Needs Ministry, visit cumcmemphis.org/specialneeds or contact Ashley at 261-2153.

Shane described these verses as a “great worship passage,” as Isaiah sees the heavens open up and is enveloped by the power and glory of God.

Worship is a powerful experience that is more than merely one hour on Sunday morning; it’s an encounter with the God of the Universe.

Isaiah is overwhelmed by God’s power and gets a glimpse into real worship. Shane gave three lessons we learn about worship from this passage.

Real worship fosters and upward look. Worship is the doorway that God gives us so that we may meet Him. It should be transformative and point us to Him. The first thing Isaiah did was to look up. God has given us much more than our earthly lives through Jesus; meet His presence and worship Him.

The more Isaiah looks upward, the more he realizes his unworthiness. We’re all unworthy, but God made us worthy through Jesus, who came that we would be transformed in His likeness; something far greater than the world can know on its own. As we look upward, we also look inward and are reminded that we are nothing without Him.

Isaiah hears God ask, “Whom shall I send … ” and answers, “Send me.” True worship causes us to look outward toward others. Being touched by the hand of God makes us want to go and share. Each day, 70 percent of our news stories are negative; our city and our world need Jesus. We must go outward and remind them that there is much, much more.

Watch the service.

Guest post by CUMC members Joe & Laura Renteria

We first began attending Christ United Methodist Church when we were college students at Rhodes College. As students, it was a high priority for us to develop strong relationships with other Christians, so we began attending the church’s Young Adults Sunday school class. We’ve now been going to Sunday school here for almost five years.

Our lives have changed a lot since we first began attending Sunday school at CUMC: we graduated from college, got our first jobs and second jobs, one of us moved from Memphis and back again, then we went and got married, and recently we bought our first house. As we’ve grown, our class has grown with us. The friendships we’ve made through CUMC have taught us a lot about ourselves, and have challenged us and helped us grow in our relationship with Christ. Currently in our class, there are those in the stage of life we’ve just passed through and those in the stage ahead. We’ve valued being able to pass on what we’ve learned, and appreciate learning from those who’ve had different experiences.

At the beginning of this year, the opportunity arose for us to take a larger leadership role in our class. For years we’ve just been members; then we were asked to be part of a larger group tasked with encouraging class growth and the maintenance involved in running a class. Even more recently, we’ve begun to teach the class as well. Utilizing our respective gifts in the areas of teaching and administration to help others grow has not only been an enjoyable experience, but one that has challenged us and energized our own faith. We learn as much from the members of our class as we teach.

Helping to lead a Sunday school class is not always easy. But we know from past experiences that serving always has its up and downs. Ultimately we want to be in the best place possible to grow in our relationship with God and be in authentic community with other Christians. And right now, that place is at CUMC, helping lead our Sunday school class.

>>Are you interested in serving as a Sunday school teacher or small group leader? Or maybe you are just looking for a class to join. Contact Ginger Holland, Community Life, to get connected.

Wall of desserts

There is really nothing as thrilling as the sound of 500 men singing at full voice, and Archers Chapel UMC is still echoing with the worship following the United Methodist Men’s annual fish fry. Bishop Bill McAlilly brought a strong message to the men at this recent event in Frog Jump, TN –including 24 from Christ Church.

If you missed it, here’s a ‘taste’ of what you missed: fried catfish, fried country ham, French fries and hushpuppies all  well-balanced by the vegetable selections: cole slaw and ketchup!  The “wall” of desserts was a foretaste of what the Heavenly Banquet may look like.

On the way back, however, we ran into a small snag– the bus broke down. Our driver, Bob Williams, was able to coast us into a derelict service station. We flagged down some of Ripley’s finest who offered us assistance. When the policeman called the Mayor to report a broken down bus and 24 Methodist men, he told him to render all possible assistance– they had enough Methodists to worry about already!

Our kind brothers and sisters at 1st UMC Ripley lent us their bus and supplied a couple of cars with drivers to get us home. Many, many thanks for their hospitality!

A year ago, the property was severely blighted with condemned living spaces, with owners in default and discouraging trail bikers and pedestrians from venturing into Binghampton.

Thanks to:

• Mayor Wharton’s nuisance property lawsuit,
• oversight and loan forgiveness from Director Lipscomb and the Memphis Housing and Community Development Division,
• pressure from the Environmental Court’s Judge Potter,
• substantial funding provided by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s NSP-1 funding, and
• significant gifts from Christ United Methodist and the Binghampton area’s Christ Community Church, this renovated property will house low-income families in high-quality, energy-efficient facilities.

Please join us as Mayor Wharton, other elected officials and community partners celebrate the opening of this revitalized housing property and a symbol of hope for our community’s future.

The Tillman Crossing Apartments already has 11 families that will be future residents including four new refugee families through World Relief as well as a Shelby Greenline Ranger. At least 80 percent of units will be enjoyed by households at or below 80 percent Area Median Income. Residents are also eligible for rent rebates based on the longevity of stay, timeliness of rent payments and investment into the physical and community health of Tillman Crossing. We are praying for Tillman Crossing to be blessed and a blessing to residents and the larger Binghampton community.

Join us in celebrating the grand opening of the Tillman Crossing apartments with Mayor Wharton on April 24 at 10 am at Tillman Crossing – 220 Tillman Ave. (at the Greenline).

Guest post written by Robert Montague, Executive Director, Binghampton Development Corporation (BDC)*

*BDC (www.bdcmemphis.org) is a faith-based, non-profit celebrating its 10^th year of serving this historic neighborhood through housing counseling, job training, community building, parent education, school programming, urban food production and housing development.  The Tillman Crossing development represents the BDC’s 44^th multi-family and 93rd total developed housing unit in the historic Binghampton community.