iHOPE

Making a Difference- in Zimbabwe

  I just received the annual report from the Zimbabwe Mission Partnership. I'm so glad we are a part of this mission!  I'm also proud of all the people and hard work that goes in to making this such a fantastic mission- they are giants.

  The ZMP consists of 10 churches in our Presbytery who partner together to make a difference in the Nyamashoto district of northeastern Zimbabwe.  The work of centers mostly around a school, medical clinic and orphan feeding center. Sometimes the ZMP gets confused with our presbytery's partnership with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe (the Partnership of the Zimbabwe- Denver Presbyteries- PZDP). That is understandable, but they are different. 

• The ZMP focuses on one area of need in one region of Zimbabwe. The PZDP works with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe, partnering with them and their missions and ministries across the entire country.
• The ZMP works with a local board for oversight of the projects. The PZDP works through the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. 
• The ZMP began first as a ministry of New Hope through Ralph & Roberta Pippitt- about 13 years ago. It quickly became apparent that this was going to be a BIG project and would be so much more effective if other churches joined to form a partnership. That is how the ZMP got started. Because of the connections made by the ZMP, discussions were begun with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. That led to a larger partnership involving all the churches of the Denver Presbytery with all the churches in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe (in 2005).
• Even though these are different types of ministries, they often have the same people serving in both (New Hope is part of the ZMP. I am on the PZDP Committee)

  That's clear now, isn't it?

  OK, its still pretty fuzzy.  Here is what is clear: Because of the ZMP (and the PZDP), lives are being changed. Destinies are being altered. The cause of Christ is going forward. People are being blessed and God is glorified.  Check out the report below and see for yourself!

Download ZMP AnnualRpt 2009

  By the way, did I say there were 10 churches in the Zimbabwe Mission Partnership? I should have said there were 11!  Eagle River Presbyterian Church just joined the ZMP and now the partnership is even stronger. Its amazing what God can do when people make themselves available.

A Great Response to Haiti

  The response from around the world for Haiti has been tremendous- including from the Presbyterian Church!  In disasters like this, we intentionally do not take up a special collection in worship, instead choosing to provide links where people can give directly and quickly. In our denomination, we use the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program.  Evidently, a lot of people had the same idea.

  Bruce Reyes-Chow, our Moderator, announced on his Facebook page today, that he is...

 ...proud to say that the Presbyterian Church (USA) through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has raised $4,300,000 for short AND long term recovery efforts in Haiti.

  By the way, The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to crisis large and small throughout the year. One majot source of their funding is the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, which we take on Palm Sunday (March 28).  If you have kids in Sunday School, they have already been given their 'Fish' banks to start collecting loose change for that offering.

  Its amazing what can be done when a lot of people are faithful and generous.

Presbyterians Declaring War on Israel?

  I've received a couple emails on this one.  Has the Presbyterian Church (USA) drifted from its longstanding support of the nation of Israel? The Presbyterian Outlook reported on this story. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a human rights organization, posted an alert to supporters on Feb. 22, with the headline: “Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Ready to Declare War Against Israel: Take Action Now.”

The alert, regarding a report that’s not completed yet from a General Assembly Middle East study group, states that “adoption of this poisonous document by the Presbyterian Church will be nothing short of a declaration of war on Israel and her supporters.”

  Well, that will certainly get people's attention- which is evidently what it was supposed to do. 

  Gradye Parsons, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church issued a response.    In part, it reads,

The Middle East Study Team’s report, which will be released by Friday, March 5, 2010, contains a letter to the American Jewish community. The study team begins the letter by saying:

We want to be sure to say to you in no uncertain terms: We support the existence of Israel as a sovereign nation within secure and recognized borders. No “but,” no “let’s get this out of the way so we can say what we really want to say.” We support Israel’s existence as granted by the U.N. General Assembly. We support Israel’s existence as a home for the Jewish people. We have said this before, and we say this again. We say it because we believe it; we say it because we want it to continue to be true.

  The Presbyterian Church has always suppoprted the nation of Israel. Later in his response, Parson's cites the litany of some of the declarations made by the church in the past:

A Time to Dance?

 
I was struck the other day by an article about Haiti and Carnival. Normally this season is full of celebration, revelry and general raucousness. This year, it has been called off. There is nothing to celebrate.

“I live on the street. I lost everything. Today, I should be dancing but the earthquake ruined everything.”

  There is too much tragedy for celebration, too much sadness for dancing. As one woman said,

“I’m sad not because we don’t have Carnival,” she said. “I’m sad because I lost eight people of my family. They’ll never dance again.”

  Carnival/Mardi Gras is a little foreign to us Presbyterians (that is what is known as an 'understatement'!). Today is Fat Tuesday which is the last day of Carnival before Ash Wednesday and the traditional rigors of Lent (that is a little foreign to us, too). It seems the idea is to have all the fun you can before you have to get 'serious' with religion. That is too bad.

Living With a Future

I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, 

plans for your welfare and not for harm,

to give you a future with hope.   (Jeremiah 29:11)

  Dan's book, Everyday Courage, has me thinking about the future this week. The first theme we are invited to read, think about, pray over and discuss in our Life Groups is 'courage for the future'.  If there is one affirmation that permeates scripture, it is that the People of God have a future.

  So, how do you live when you aren't afraid of the future?  You give your best energies to the future you believe is coming. That is easier said than done! Let me give a couple examples:

Uh-Oh, Here Come the Olympics

  The Olympics start tonight with the Opening Ceremonies. I'm in trouble.

  I admit it, I'm a sucker for the Olympics. Every time they come around I promise I won't watch them as much. I have a life to live. I have more important  things to do, for crying out loud. Besides, who really cares about things like Luge, Freestyle Skiing or Curling?

  Turns out, every four years, I do.

  Despite all my rational arguments and renewed promises, every time the Olympics come around, I get mesmerized. I stay up too late. I watch too much TV. I get caught up in the competitions that any other time I wouldn't even notice.

  Some people have noted that the Olympics have deep religious roots.  Watch the Opening Ceremonies (you know you're going to) and the overtones are there. The Olympics have their own:

Prayer Walk: Zimbabwe

 

     Have you seen the pictures on our Prayer Walk this month?  Our Prayer Walk is the space between the Fellowship Hall and the Offices.  It is a series of pictures on both sides of the walkway with an invitation to offer a prayer as you walk from one end of the building to another.

  This month the theme of our Prayer Walk is 'Zimbabwe'.  New Hope has a long history in Zimbabwe, beginning with Ralph & Roberta Pippitt, more than a dozen years ago. Since then more people and more goods and money have been sent.  The mission to Zimbabwe expanded with a partnership of seven other churches in the Denver Presbytery.   About five years ago, our Presbytery and the Presbytery of Zimbabwe formed partnership- The Partnership of the Zimbabwe and Denver Presbyteries (PZDP). 

  We are not sure why we have been given this call to be connected to Zimbabwe, but it is clear that we do (God's call works that way sometimes!).  It has been the source of great blessing and challenge for all involved. One of the ways that we respond to that call is with a special offering every February. This year it is February 21.

  Another way we respond to God's call is through Prayer. As you walk back and forth through the church this month, offer a prayer for the people of Zimbabwe, the school is Nyamashato, the Heather Chigwida Orphanage, and the work of the Zimbabwe Presbytery.

Habits of Hope: Community

  For the last two thousand year, there have been a few practices (habits) that the People of God have used to open themselves to the presence of God. Let me tell you about a powerful 'habit'- the Habit of Community.

  I am part of a LIFE Group as part of our 'Everyday Courage' series that got kicked off last weekend. We were using the first three readings in Dan's book (Everyday Courage) as an introduction to the book and the series. One of the questions had to do with the how we have encountered God in the past.

  We had some great examples around the table and then one of the members remembered a Native American tradition for a rite of passage for boys who were to become men. The boys were blindfolded and led deep into the forest. They were seated and told not to take off their blindfold until someone came back and told them to do so. This was to be a test of courage.

  All through the night the young man remained blindfolded until the next morning when he was told he could now take it off. When he did, he realized that his father had been sitting with him the entire night. He had never been alone. What was meant to be a lesson on courage was also a lesson on what it meant to be a part of the tribe.

  What does this have to do with the Habit of Community?  Plenty!

Habits of Hope part 1: What is a 'Habit of Hope'?

  On the back our Communication Card on Sunday, one of the possible "next steps' was to commit to the Habits of Hope between now and Easter.  

  So, what is a 'Habit of Hope'?, someone asked after the service.  Oops.

  Guess I should have explained that one a little better, huh?

  One of the biggest reasons people come (or come back) to church is because they want to get closer to God. They sense there is something missing in their life and it has something to do with God. They think that if they can get closer to God, their life will have more meaning, purpose, peace and direction.

  Turns out, they are right. But knowing what we want and knowing how to get it are two different things. We all start by thinking that just by coming to church we will feel closer to God. Sometimes that works- for awhile. But after that wears off, what then?  Hanging around people who are close to God can help, too. But being near people who are near to God is not the same thing as being near to God yourself.  Isn't there a way for me to get closer to God myself?

  The answer is, 'Yes!' There are ways to get closer to God and experience the life God wants for you. We call those ways, the 'Habits of Hope'

The Super Bowl is Over- Are You Ready for the Big Game?

  The Super Bowl is over and by all accounts a great game- at least I thought so! Now that its over, are you ready for the Big Game? 

  Contrary to all the hype, the Big Game isn't the Super Bowl.  The Big Game is Life. Its what you and I do after the Super Bowl is over that counts. Its when we get on with the business of living and it takes a little more preparation than just deciding which flavor of nachos to serve!

  If you were around this weekend, you got a good start. The Kick-Off Weekend began with a potluck and then some sharing of real-life 'profiles in courage.'  Wow.  Powerful stuff. On Saturday we returned for some inspiration and insight about what it means to live a courageous life. I thought both services on Sunday were powerful, too. What better way to launch a new season than around the communion Table?

  Not able to be here this weekend?  That's alright. There is still time to getup to speed. The daily devotional, Everyday Courage, is available and there is still time to get involved with a LIFE Group. Don't stand on the sidelines for this one. This is meant to be more than just a program, its meant to be preparation for whatever lies ahead. I don't know what that is and neither do you. I do know how to prepare. Are you ready?