Rainy Days

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It is Friday and I am setting at my desk watching the rain drops run down my window. I normally take Friday off, but I was supposed to be working with the youth today--we were scheduled to finish painting the house of a neighborhood family. But when I went to my car at 7:30 this morning, the dark clouds were rolling in and I knew painting was out of the question. So, this morning I have worked in the office, getting the newsletter ready and reconnecting with my blog.

I haven't written much in the last few months. I have been too busy. I am involved with lots of groups outside the church (CUP, IAF, SOS, etc.) and I am working with the youth (something I think may have to change). Not only that, we have had three deaths in the last 6 weeks (4 if you include a member that lived in another state). I jokingly said last Sunday that "No one is allowed to die". I had a member suggest that I add the caveat that you can only die once you have gotten 2 new members to take your place! I think I like that idea!

But as I sit and watch the dark clouds roll by, I am reminded that life doesn't function on my schedule. Just because I wanted to get the painting done today, doesn't mean it has to happen. Just because I want to have a break from funerals, doesn't mean it is going to happen. I have to learn to be flexible. Sometimes life runs on our time table--and sometimes it doesn't. Maybe I am like everyone else...I need to let go and let God have control. Maybe I needed a rainy day to get caught up in the office and then to rest my weary body and soul.

When life doesn't work out the way we want, we are called to do one thing--

TO RESPOND "BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!"

Clink on this link to hear it for yourself: Blessed Be Your Name

Working Together

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Working Together

Who is that bald man who is the new Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Cooperative Urban Parish? Well, according to the story in the CONTACT, that would be me!

I have been involved in the parish almost since the first week I arrived at Ridgecrest. Myrtle Clingenpeel took me to an evening meeting at a Methodist church in south OKC and I was hooked. Having just arrived in the urban setting, it was important for me to have a relationship with other pastors and laypersons who had experience. I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel—I wanted to learn from the experience of others. Also, I needed their support and encouragement.

Now, 10 years later, I am the one with experience and encouragement. Outside of a few pastor (both Senior Pastors and Associates) in large churches, I have more urban experience than almost any other pastor in OKC or Tulsa (in the UMC). When CUP was floundering and looking for leadership, I believed that God was calling me to share my experience with others. That is why I stepped up to take over as Executive Director of CUP.

I am committed not just to the organization, but to the ideal that it represents. I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ works better when we work together than when we work separately. That principal has lead to our involvement with Streets of Shalom (the interdenominational group of churches that minister in our neighborhood) and with the new community organizing project lead by IAF. The strength of togetherness is what motivates me to work to establish a relationship with St. Andrew’s UMC in south OKC (a relationship that hasn’t been fully established just yet, but that is still on the burner). It is also why I am currently working with other UM churches in our area to develop joint ministries. While one of us alone might not be able to have a strong program (take youth, for example), four churches working together can afford and support a strong program.

The writer of Ecclesiastes recognized the value of togetherness when he wrote in the 4^th chapter:

9Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

May the Lord, working through us and other churches, create cords that cannot be broken!

FYI

www.ridgecrestumc.com

The following is an article that was published in the CONTACT--the newsletter of the Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

OKC Church Co-Op Gets Volunteer Leader

Written: 6/13/2008

By AMELIA BALLEW

The Oklahoma City Cooperative Urban Parish (CUP) has named Jim Hill to serve as its volunteer executive director.

He is the fifth leader of CUP. Twenty-six churches and five agencies comprise the ecumenical organization.

Rev. Hill’s role was announced at a CUP Executive Committee meeting on April 23. Dale Tremper had been leading the Parish on a volunteer, interim basis since June 2007. Rev. Tremper is the full-time executive director of Skyline Urban Ministry.

One of Hill’s duties will be to conduct a fall fund-raising campaign, focused in October, as the Parish seeks to re-establish its financial base. The executive committee hopes to raise enough funds for a paid part-time directorship.

Planned activities include: a Parish worship service in September, a Parish mission event in October, and the funding drive.

The Parish members also continue efforts to develop an urban internship program, in cooperation with leaders of the Wimberly School of Religion, Oklahoma City University, and Saint Paul School of Theology.

Hill will work for CUP from his current office at OKC-Ridgecrest UMC.

"It is an honor to be named the executive," Hill said about his role with CUP. "I am merely the latest in a line of directors who have sought to do God’s will in this urban area of Oklahoma City. I pray that I might live up to the tradition and spirit of those leaders."

He explained, "The cooperative ministries are intended to renew congregations, build community in the Parish area, and change and improve the lives of people in the area."

He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. Before being called into ministry, he taught history and coached debate at Mustang High School for seven years.

Hill was called to the ordained ministry in 1991 and attended Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo.

While in Denver, he served as associate pastor at Emmanuel UMC, an urban church. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1994. In 2007, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Brite Divinity School, at Texas Christian University.

In Oklahoma, he was appointed to Warner UMC and the Wesley Foundation at Connor State College.

Hill began serving at Ridgecrest in 1998, and he became active in the Parish organization within a few months of his appointment. He has been a longtime member of the Executive Committee, served on the Finance Committee, and participated in numerous outreach efforts by the Parish.

From 2002 to 2004, Hill was part-time executive director of CUP Mobile Meals, which coordinated the food-delivery ministries throughout Oklahoma City and the county.

Jim and Lu Ann Hill married in 1984 and have three children. She is a teacher at Edgemere Elementary in Oklahoma City.

For information, contact Hill at 405-943-9536 or ridgecrestumc@sbcglobal.net.