True to Jesus

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Psalm 122, Verse 1, King James Version

Roy Goodart in his congregational moment speaking about our “Step-Up” campaign on February 19^th reflected on a young adult who told him that the high point of his week was Sunday morning worship at Hilltop.  A contemporary statement of the psalmist: “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”  We try to make that Psalm opening true for everyone. 

Worship is a critical element to the beautiful transformation we pray and hope happens every week at Hilltop. 

There is a lot of thought that goes into each service.  We spend time discussing the theme, and how best to frame it in poetry, readings, prayer and proclamation.  Our goal is of course transfiguration or as I introduced last week, beautiful transformation. 

But the beautiful transformation isn’t entirely in the hands of your worship leadership.  Each of us has a role in this transfiguration.  Making ourselves vulnerable to the word(s) of God mean we have to let our guards down.  Some of us have to let them down a lot. 

All of us – all – of – us -- have to check our egos at the door.  At the symphony there is a coat/hat/umbrella check, a closet where we can leave those things so they don’t interfere with our enjoyment of the music.  There is sadly no ego check at the doors of the church.  Do you think maybe we should consider a capital campaign to properly deal with that need?  I think not.  That is an expense we don’t need to pursue, but we do all need to perhaps to lower the personality guards we all carry around with us.  We hear it:  “I’m just being true to myself.”  We of course aren’t called to be true to ourselves, we are called to be true to Jesus. 

Lent is a perfect time to intentionally pause from the world’s values and plug ourselves into exploring what it might actually mean to be beautifully transformed by the truth of Jesus.  Part of how we might accomplish beautiful transformation is to make ourselves vulnerable to the word of God in poetry, readings, prayer and proclamation.  I know that vulnerability will require each of us to check in something we are holding onto so that the beautiful transformation message washes over us.  What we hold onto might be anger, forgiveness offered but not received, forgiveness hoped for but not offered, frustration, a feeling of being under appreciated.  I could go on.  I am sure the list can be built quickly and easily if we just get ourselves started.  For worship to possibly “take” and make us “glad” we need to be prepared to be vulnerable. 

I return to Roy Goodart’s story.  That young man was prepared to open his heart to the worship experience and allow it to roll over him and carry him to a new, transfigured place.  That could not have happened without vulnerability. 

Selah, Pastor Dennis

Step-Up Conclusion

Remember

Last week I focused on the threefold fullness of health:  grandparent, parent, and child.  I want to conclude our weekly conversation with some comparative analysis, but Before I do that, I want to re-re-refocus briefly on our why. 

This last Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday.  Jesus emerged from that experience with a clear focus.  I suggested that transfiguration is a positive, beautiful transformation.  The express purpose of the church is transformation.  I have written recently:  “Transformation is an intense process and it requires us to stretch. But, a critical element of that transformation, that stretching, has already occurred here:  Hilltop is reaching, stretching, beyond itself.  That is transformation.  Let’s continue that change.  Change like that requires rare people.” 

No Guilt!

I want to share with you a comparative analysis of Anglo United Methodist Churches in Utah that have at least one full-time pastor.  As you look at this, I ask that we read and study in order to understand, rather than to formulate a reply.  I also do not want any guilt to emerge from this conversation.  Ready? 

The next chart shows where Hilltop is ranked if we use per attendee income for 2016 from the congregation as our ranking metric (tool).  We are in last place. 

Congregational Giving per Attendee:  2016

Your church leadership is 100% mindful that Park City is in a different economic base than us.  I suspect SLC Christ is demographically older; see the sixteen deaths, than Hilltop.  I confess, I am surprised at the disparity between Hilltop and the two Ogden churches.  This disparity was true in 2015 as well. 

If our congregational giving on a per attendee basis was at the level of Ogden Community our income would increase by over $220,000.  If we were at the level of Ogden First, it would increase by nearly $80,000.  I find that stunning. 

Again, no guilt, right?  No guilt, please. 

The first question that comes here is “can you explain why?” 

No, I cannot satisfactorily explain why.  I think the answer is composed of many variables all working at the same time.  History, demographics within the congregation to where we have many with youth in college, some proportion of fixed incomes, and a general unwillingness to talk about money because of the dominant culture and its high expectation on financial support of the church.  There are a lot of variables.  But on a compare of like to like, if we add in Mountain Vista in West Jordan to us and the two Ogdens, I suspect our demographics are more alike than we are different, and again, the compare is stunning. 

Three Closing Thoughts

Here are three thoughts that have been mentioned earlier:

• “We are under-incomed, not over-expensed.”  I offer we are not under-led.  Your lay leadership at Hilltop is bold, because our vision is bold. 
• Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the Bible, The Message offers this glimpse at Luke 12:48b: "Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!"  We need to respond in a responsible way to the gifts we have been given. 
• We quoted an unnamed black preacher in the February Newsletter:  “God is not a monument, but a movement.”  Methodism was called a movement in our early days.  We can recapture that by focusing on our transformation purpose.  

What is our “bottom-line?”  We need to have our resourcing match our mission and purpose.  We need this in order to transform the world:  Our world. 

Selah, Pastor Dennis

Threefold Fullness of Health

Remember

Last week I wrote:  “Next week I will address the threefold fullness of health:  grandparent, parent, and child.”

Before I do that, I want to re-refocus briefly on our why. 

This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday.  It is in part a remembrance of Jesus taking on his purpose with a clear focus.  Transfiguration is a positive, beautiful transformation.  Our own church purpose is transformation.  Our vision to be co-creators of new church life is bold, and it is about transformation.  As I indicated last week:  “Transformation is an intense process and it requires us to stretch. But, a critical element of that transformation, that stretching, has already occurred here:  Hilltop is reaching, stretching, beyond itself.  That is transformation.  Let’s continue that change.  Change like that requires rare people.” 

Health at every level matters

We are not alone in this adventure.  The “conference” is with us.  The conference is no longer a disembodied entity in Denver, if it ever was.  Too often, churches view the conference as where the Bishop is located and the place where we send money.  It is too often viewed as a one way street with everything going to Denver, and nothing coming back.  That is not accurate.  

I am personally here because Bishop Elaine listened to Hilltop.  The same can be said of Pastor Emily:  the conference listened.  But in ways other than pastoral leadership, the conference is sharing in this adventure.  All but $20,000 of the annual costs of this adventure are being paid by the conference.  The ability to do this is made possible by the 250+ churches of the conference, located in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.  In effect, a sliver of that $65,000+ to be sent to us in 2017 by the Rocky Mountain Conference is from Arvada (Colorado) UMC, LaJunta (Colorado) UMC, Laramie (Wyoming) First UMC, and Park City (Utah) Community Church just to name four.  Cantaloupe farmers from Rocky Ford, Colorado are invested in Hilltop and our bold ministry vision. 

Last year about half of all the churches in the conference met their financial obligation to the conference.  We were not one of them.  Our proposed budget for 2017 gets us incrementally closer to that goal, but still falls short.  The conference is in the resourcing business.  That is what it does:  equips people, both laity and clergy, as well as local churches for their transformation missions.  It can only do this if the local churches support the conference in its own financial health. 

Great gifts, great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities

Health of the parent – Hilltop – and our intentionally planned child matter.  In fact, only $21,200 of our 2017 planned spending is about the child, creating her in good health.  That is a little under 6% of expenses supported by current congregational giving. 

Threefold Fullness of Health

Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the Bible, The Message offers this glimpse at Luke 12:48b: "Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!"  We need to respond in a responsible way to the gifts we have been given. 

To repeat a mantra we have been offering since January:  “We are under-incomed, not over-expensed.”  I offer we are not under-led.  Your lay leadership at Hilltop is bold, leading to a vision that is bold. 

Roberta quoted an unnamed black preacher in the February Newsletter:  “God is not a monument, but a movement.”  Methodism was called a movement in our early days.

We can recapture the movement spirit by focusing on our transformation purpose.  Health beyond Hilltop, at Hilltop and the new life springing from Hilltop must all be factors.  Not simply the health of Hilltop as parent. You are at the center of this threefold fullness of health.  

Selah, Pastor Dennis

Pack Fast, Travel Light

Remember

Last week I wrote:  “Next Wednesday, this blog will focus on how we can all participate in realizing Hilltop’s vision. We will lay out a plan to make up our budget deficit.”

Before I do that, I want to re-refocus briefly on our why. 

Our very purpose is transformation.  Over the past two years the Hilltop self-identity has been radically restored.  That self-identity restoration of the vision to be a church parent is a transformation.  Our vision is bold, and it is about transformation:  to be co-creators with God of new faith communities in Utah.  We understand:  transformation is an intense process and it requires us to stretch. But, a critical element of that transformation, that stretching, has already occurred here:  Hilltop is reaching, stretching, beyond itself.  That is transformation.  Let’s continue that change.  Change like that requires rare people. 

It is a rare person that is moved by numbers but Hilltop is filled with rare – and transformed -- people. 

Nuts and Bolts

About 185 households worship at Hilltop once a month.  While we want to reach every household with our invitation, if 165 respond with an increase of $6.98 a week (every week, not just the weeks people are here), we could get to the lower range of that “need” of $60,000.  We would exceed it if all 185 households are inspired to join us on this journey.  It is important that we understand we are being invited to respond every week (back to January 1, 2017).  If that average goes up by $2.35 (to $9.33/weekly) per household, then we are at $80,000 which allows us to pay our own tithe to the United Methodist Church, and another $2.32 (to $11.65/weekly) per household gets us to $100,000 more and we can bring planned building and program expenses back up to where they need to be.  We have suggested that is one Domino’s Cheese Pizza or a Quesadilla meal at the Red Iguana, and some have said ‘those examples don’t work for me.’  I smile and then say pick something that is in one of those ranges and works for you! 

I confess when I say $100,000 it seems gigantic.  When I say everyone signs on for $11.65 a week (or $6.98 or $9.33 but back to January 1, 2017), it seems doable.  We have already had some impressive responses here. 

Our vision is bold. 

We are under-incomed, not over-expensed

We need to fight that first thought to pare down expenses.  Your leaders offer:  “We are under-incomed, not over-expensed.”

Our vision is bold. 

Roberta quoted an unnamed black preacher in the February Newsletter:  “God is not a monument, but a movement. And if you want to walk with God you’ve got to pack fast and travel light.”

Next week I will address the threefold fullness of health:  grandparent, parent, and child. 

Until then, keep in mind that we are inviting you to pack fast, and travel light on this bold adventure we are on. 

Selah, Pastor Dennis

What is Hilltop About?

Hilltop’s very purpose is to be in the transformation business

We have transformed ourselves in the last few years, and your church leaders believe that Hilltop has been called to provide a way for everyone to find Jesus. We believe that the world needs his presence, grace, and transformative power.

We have heard many stories recently of how Hilltop is transforming lives, specifically the single mother from Family Promise who spoke to us about Hilltop’s participation in changing her family’s life. A new member has shared with me how much Hilltop has been a place of grace and affirmation for her and her children.

We must look out beyond ourselves and be a bold reflection of Grace and love in the world so that the world can be transformed, our very purpose. That vision and our anticipated congregational giving are out of sync. We have a financial shortfall of at least $60,000. To fully fund our programs and meet our conference obligations, we need $100,000.

Hilltop is Under-Incomed, Not Over-Expensed

We need to strongly resist the reflex to pull-back, to think that Hilltop is over-expensed. It is not. We are under-incomed.

Would it surprise you if I told you our per-attendee giving level is the lowest of the predominately Anglo United Methodist Churches in Utah with a full time pastor?  I will come back to that in a different blog in a few weeks. 

Listen and Learn

Over the next four weeks, I encourage you to read, listen, and understand. We will be explaining our bold purpose and vision, which we see as fulfilling God’s call to bring about transformation in the World. As you hear presentations or read thoughts, you are encouraged, in Grace, to ask questions.

Our first thought is “We are under-incomed, not over-expensed.”

Next Wednesday, this blog will focus on how we can all participate in realizing Hilltop’s vision. We will lay out a plan to make up our budget deficit.

Our vision is bold. It will require stretching. Transformation is an intense process. Let’s all work together toward that vision. 

Selah, Pastor Dennis

Write the vision ... make it plain ... so we may run

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,

 so he may run who reads it.”

                                                            Habakkuk 2: 2 (ESV)

Inspiration is a wonderful word.  Inspiration is something that causes someone to do something they might not normally have done. 

          That something is often an idea.  

                    Often, an idea that is greater than us. 

In the last several years Hilltop has been called to an inspiring vision.  

          The fact it is inspiring doesn’t make it less scary.  

                    But it is clearly inspiring. 

Your leadership has developed a vision for Hilltop to be an incubator of new church life.  The imagery of Hilltop giving birth often comes into our discussions.  Our language has led to practices that have been prayerful, scriptural and, we hope and pray, leading all of us here to do something we might not normally have done.  What we are doing in our conscious decision to give birth to a new church is refreshing and bold.  And after we are refreshed from that first birth, we plan to do it again and again.  We hope to be an incubator of new church life in this fastest growing state in the United States. 

What has happened here is nothing short of a call.  God has called our name in the night, and we have responded with “Here we are, send us.”

It is biblical and it is also literary.  In the Lord of the Rings, the Wizard Gandalf says to the hero Frodo, "you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and hearts and wits as you have."  

Hilltop must use all of that – wits and heart to be sure we have the strength. 

Our vision of seeing Hilltop as an incubator of future church life also calls Hilltop to focus on our own health.  The health of the church and the health of the church child must be factors in our vision.  Health here cannot be either/or.  Health must be both/and.  Hilltop Home as mother and our refreshing child must both be healthy, as well as Hilltop’s loving mother, the Rocky Mountain Conference. 

Where we are in 2017 is exactly where Hilltop was called to be. 

Last year, your leadership urged our mother, United Methodist leaders in Denver, to see the urgency of now rather than the tyranny of later.  Mother listened and prayed, and was compelled to act by the inspiring and inspired leadership in Sandy, Utah. 

We have spoken of this call in words that we hoped would compel you to follow your leaders in this call. We have some work to do to bring that call into line with insuring grandmother, mother and child are healthy.  We are going to spend some time in February coming back to you and inspiring you with the call we are on – an incubator of new church life while keeping Hilltop the mother healthy for future births. 

The road we are about to trod is not going to be easy. In fact it will be scary. We must reject the negativity in our history and continue to talk, inspire, and lean in because we are called to do so.  I confess we are now at a place where we could exercise caution when the situation calls for us to be bold and brave, when the situation calls for us to be inspired. We must choose bold, brave and inspired.

Let me ask:  Does the world now need our witness and call less … or more?

It is my fervent belief and hope that we can exercise a theology and practice of passionate biblical Christianity that will continue to push fervently ahead where the rest of the world would issue a call to pull back.

We can do this inspired, compelling church birthing work, and keep Hilltop a healthy parent, while continuing to keep our mother in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado strong.  

          All must be in our focus.  

                    All of those must be in our vision. 

I encourage us to now be worthy daughters and sons of Hilltop, of Methodism,  and of the Lord.

I commented earlier that your leaders urged our mother, that is key United Methodist leaders in Denver, to see the urgency of now rather than be satisfied with the tyranny of waiting for later.

I pray we are inspired – now – by the example of your leaders to go preach love, stand fast against traditional wisdom, and renew the face of the earth.  I invite you in February to listen to your leaders, and answer their call with a faithful, inspired response. 

Selah, Pastor Dennis

Prayers of the day January 3, 2017 and earlier

January 3, 2017
Rock solid God, remind us that it is through trials we reach the steadfast outcome. May we experience the full effect of that outcome and, thru Grace, move a little this day towards perfection. Amen.
James 1:2-4

January 2, 2017
Loving, Grace dispensing God, we believe that through Christ we are created anew. Thus our old self has passed and become new. May that new person love others, and ourselves, with a reflection of Your Grace so that Your new reign where all can belong will be made visible. Amen.
1Cor 5:17

January 1, 2017
Loving God who calls us beloved sisters and brothers, remind us as sisters and brothers to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and tardy in our anger. Amen.

December 31, 2016
God of Grace and direction, guide us so we do not run aimlessly nor fool ourselves by beating the air to simulate progress. Encourage us to lives of discipline, control, and focus so that we may be a living and holy example of Your Grace. Amen.

December 30, 2016
Loving God, you invite us to come to you when we labor and are heavy laden. You promise us rest. Remind us - gently - that in taking upon ourselves your yoke, we hope to learn your ways. Remind us you are gentle and soul filling because your yoke is easy, and your burden is light. Amen.

December 29, 2016
O God of Compassion and Grace, you tell us you will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be a time when death is no more. No mourning, no crying, no pain anymore, because what was, no longer will be. Help us to live till then, Amen.

November 11, 2016
Gracious and loving God, remind us that we are encouraged to "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." Gently but firmly, caution us when we are slow to hear, quick to speak, and rapid in our anger. Amen.#James1:19

November 2, 2016
God of truth, honor, justice, purity, commendation and excellence, remind us to think on your attributes and endeavor through your Holy Spirit and our practice to make your attributes - ours. Amen.Drawn from Philippians 4:8-9

November 1, 2016
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." Amen.2 Corinthians 1:1-4 (ESV)

October 30, 2016
God of truth, way, and life, continue to point us towards abundant life by following the Gospel way to the truth of Grace and Easter. Amen.#gospelofjohn

October 29, 2016
Unseen and seen Divine, challenge us to sharpen our vision of you in faith despite your being unseen but also challenge us to show those we see what love of you looks like. Amen.1John3:18 Hebrews11:1

October 28, 2016Generous God, it is so easy for us to cling to that which we have been given. Remind us in order to reap generously, we must sow generously. Amen.Luke 6:382 Corinthians 9:6

October 27, 2016
O God of both Jeremiah and Paul: one asks 'why' and the other sees opportunity. Remind us 'why' is a worthy question, but in our journeys, also remind us we are not alone. Amen.#whycanbegood #painisrealPhilippians 4: 13Jeremiah 15: 18

October 26, 2016
Loving and ever teaching God, it is a natural element of our human condition to see ourselves as the center of the universe. Gently, but firmly, shake us from this inward stare and move our gaze, our focus, out in loving service to a new horizon that includes others. AmenRomans 12: 3-13

October 25, 2016
O loving and gracious God, sacred scripture says "Everyone should be quick to listen ...." Encourage in us quickness in listening. Remind us that often we listen in order to respond, rather than to learn. O Lord, speak -- your servants are listening. Amen.#James1 #1Samuel1 #DennisThisMeansYou!

October 23, 2016
O God of healing and hope, we pray this morning that your Holy Spirit will indeed aid and guide us to a sacred encounter with your shekinah, your very holy presence. Amen.#Oliveticus #rmcumc #shekinah=presence

October 22, 2016
O God who invites us to harvest self-control, may we joyfully see self-control as fruitfulness growing from a deep relationship with you. Amen.#Galatians5 #fruitsofthespirit #seekfirstthekingdomofgod.

October 21, 2016
God of Grace and Mercy, how often are we like your servant David and ready to see your love for us in terms of some cosmic trade? Chastened, David, and probably many of us, is and are amazed and grateful for your Grace and Mercy and say to you, who am I? But we are confident you know. Amen.#2Samuel7 #Bonhoeffer

October 20, 2016
Quiet Divine, remind us of our need for 'enough silence and solitude' to 'enable our deep inner voice' to be heard. Remind us the crucified and resurrected one sought time to commune with and to hear you. Alone. Amen.#thomasmerton.

October 19, 2016
Creator of heaven and earth, continue to be the Good Shepherd at our side in all our coming ins and all our going outs. Restore our souls in green pastures and beside still waters. In humble gratitude we sing amen.

October 18, 2016
Ancient, current, future God - three and one in this now. Remind us in our rituals of your presence in this now. Speak lovingly - and boldly - to us in this now. Encourage us to break the chains of nostalgia that imprison us in this now. Amen.

October 17, 2016
All wise and all knowing God, we thank you for the knowledge that tomatoes are a fruit and the wisdom to not include them in fruit salad. Jesus constantly dealt with those who would put knowledge over wisdom. Let us be people of knowledge but especially grant us Grace-filled wisdom. Amen.

October 16, 2016
Courageous God, you send messengers to call us away from fear. Sadly, we often respond to this call to courage by clinging to fear as if our faith in fear will make us whole. Remind us fear is a Golden Calf. Remind us of the courage of Jesus. 'Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the hour before us.' Continue to call us, invite us, love us, away from messages defined in fear. Amen.

October 15, 2016
Creating and creative God, early in the creation you call light into being, separate it from the darkness, and pronounce light good. Jesus plays with ideas of light and darkness. Call us to reflect creatively into darkness your good, Grace-filled light. Amen.

October 14, 2016
Creating and creative God, early in the creation you saw the need for us to 'not be alone.' Early in his ministry Jesus created a community of growth and nurture. Remind us 'we are not alone' and we live, in community 'in your world.' 'Create in us a pure heart' celebrating those who cheer us, nurture us, and who, in humility, transform our hubris. And all of your children say ...

October 13, 2016
Grace-filled, love-filled, God -- gently remind us time alone in deep reflection and listening prayer is a blessing. A blessing where we hear your 'small, still, voice' break through the din and roar of life. Bless us lovingly now. Amen.

October 12, 2016
Let us pray:O creating and recreating God. Your sacred breath transformed the primordial soup of creation from chaos into order. That same breath was the animating force to bring the clay of the river bank to life.Continue to breath on us and into us: creating, recreating.Continue to use that divine breath, your very Holy Spirit, to bring order out of chaos.Continue to animate us in our daily endeavors to our role in your creative and re-creative process.Continue to remind us our task is to make your joy complete.Amen.

October 11, 2016
Gracious and Loving God, anoint us today with tranquility and peace that allows us to see this new day as another opportunity to demonstrate your love to those to whom love is a stranger. Amen.

A Prayer for January 12, 2017

O God of the past, present and future ages, we are mindful of your promises to be with us in this world and the next as you have been in the past.  Still our humanness balks at the untimely and early death of Saints.  Be with us in our pain and remind us that there will come a time when the former things do indeed pass away, but until it does, mourning, crying and pain, are still part of this age.  Amen.

Revelation 21: 4
John 3: 16
John 11:26

A Prayer for January 11, 2017

O God of excellence, remind us to be models of good works and in all our teaching, demonstrations of integrity and dignity.  Amen

Titus 2:7

A Prayer for January 10, 2017

Loving God, you point us towards a hope-filled future.  You tell us your plans for us are for good. Help us to live good, hope-filled, and yes, self-controlled, lives in the present age.  May the lives we lead be worthy of being called Christ-like.  Amen.  

Jeremiah 29:11
Titus 2:12