News • Worship

Tuesday, June 16
Opening Our Hearts to Diversity

By Bruce Batchelor Glader

Diversity in the church was celebrated on Tuesday morning, with music, dance, and a healthy serving of Wesleyan theology.

Worship leader Denise Whitesell, pastor of Louisville Peace UMC, challenged the congregation with the question: “What is your I.Q. on diversity?”  So often diversity is thought of in racial categories, but Denise reminded us that diversity also needs to be mindful about including children, the illiterate, the homeless, those of other religions, the wheelchair-bound, one parent families, and migrant workers.   And, of course, there are countless numbers of people who do not currently feel welcomed into our church.  Denise reminded us that “God doesn’t play favorites.”

The congregation joined in singing “Stay in Love with God”, the musical setting of John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules.  

David McClintock, a musician from Greensboro, North Carolina, played a piano solo version of the Simon and Garfunkel song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and then shared a brief witness of his faith.  “When we come to Christ for salvation, that cross is more than salvation.  It lays down and becomes the bridge over the troubled waters of this life.” Projected videos of waterfalls and flowing streams accompanied his song.

We then heard a testimony from Linda Parsons the church musician at Peace UMC, whose husband Douglas lives with dementia.  She has written a book about her life and how the church has been there for her and along the way. “The faith that we have can help others,” she said.  She concluded her witness by reading a poem that she wrote about her husband’s struggles entitled “I Can’t Hear the Music Anymore” 

Bishop Lindsay Davis of the Kentucky Conference shared a sermon that focused on John Wesley’s three ordinary means of grace – prayer, scripture and worship – also Wesley’s special love for the poor.

Transformation, Wesley style, begins with a prayerful life.  “Pray as if your life depended on it, because it does.”

Bishop Davis shared a humorous story about on afternoon when he fell asleep in the sanctuary during a period of prayer.  When he returned to the church office, his secretary asked him: “Did we enjoy our rest in the Lord?”  She seemed to hit on a profound truth. “Prayer is rest in the Lord.  You will always have an anemic congregation if you don’t pray.”
The bishop then shared another story from his years of pastoral ministry about Peter, a Korean man who started worshiping at the church.  In Korea, Peter was accustomed to going in around 5 and 5:30 on Sunday morning to pray.  “Would you mind if I begin a group like that?”  Peter got a group to come in an hour every Sunday to pray for the parish. The church began to surge in attendance and growth.  It was undergirded with prayer.  “I have worried so much and prayed so little.”

The next step for transformation is a life that is formed by scripture. 

“Our devotion to ancient texts is radical and counter-cultural.  The Bible’s understanding of human nature is eternal and true.  Immersion in scripture is essential.”

Worship, especially the Lord’s Supper, is a means of grace.  There is one place where we are absolutely equal.  “All of us are incomplete and broken.  The Lord’s Table is where we are all included.”

Photos:
Morning Worship