Cultivate Light Day 3

Day 3: Question of the day: How do you illuminate those around you?

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NLT) “For one you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

So it’s hump day...we’re in the thick of it and it might feel dark OR we may begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You are getting there! Our scripture today says that light within us (Christ) only produces what is good and right and true. We’re in the middle of this project and it’s a good time to remember that our work should be good, right and true.

Biblically, the concept of light always involves the removal of darkness. I bet at this point you have removed a LOT of stuff from your family’s house. Have you also removed darkness? Have you brought in the light of love? It’s not just about the work friends, it’s also about the people in this place. Are you a bearer of light? Do you shine? The fancy word for this idea is to coruscate*. Coruscate means to reflect vibrantly or to sparkle. Do you reflect the light of Christ? Do you sparkle?

There is an anonymous quote I want to leave you with it says: “We are stars wrapped in skin, the light you are seeking has always been within.” You have the right stuff, you are in the right place, you are with the right people. You are here for a purpose. Shine the light within you, the light of Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord, the creator of light. Help our witness, which is our words, actions and deeds, to reflect the light of Christ at this home, at our camp and all throughout this week.  Amen.

*Coruscate pronunciation: CORE-US-KATE

Cultivate Light Day 2

Day 2: Question of the day: What kind of light are you?

So it’s day two. Wow.  We’re learning more about the jobs we have to do, more about each other and more about our families. I hope you are starting to see the light of Christ in one another. There is a popular gospel tune that says the “Jesus in me loves the Jesus in you.” Your site team is made up of people with different skills, different backgrounds, different life experiences, different levels of patience….you get the picture and the most important thing is that you all have the light of Christ within you. You all have Jesus inside of you. Rumi, a persian poet born in 807AD (and surprisingly one of the most popular poets in the United States today) says “The lamps are different but the light is the same.” We are all different people but we came here because of the same God.

You may think your light small, but it can make a huge difference in other people’s lives. See Matthew 5:15 Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it give light to everyone in the house. Shine God’s light to everyone in this home. Shine light on your team. Shine light on your work. Shine light in your attitude. Shine light in this community. Shine on!

Prayer: Dear Lord, the creator of light. Help our witness, which is our words, actions and deeds, to reflect the light of Christ at this home, at our camp and all throughout this week.  Amen.

Cultivate Light Day 1

This week, July 21-July 28 I am the spiritual director for the Columbia Salkehatchie camp. Since this is a big chunk of my time this week I thought I’d share with my congregation the devotions (which I wrote) the campers will be doing each day on site before they begin working.

Here’s day One:

Day 1: Question of the day: From where do we get light?

It’s day one. We’re all fresh and excited. We have a big job to tackle and we’re ready to jump right in! We’re ready to expose some parts of this house to the light and tear some stuff open. It’s demo day!!!! We are lit!

These feelings of excitement are good and important, but it is also important to remember where our light comes from. Isaiah 60: 19 says No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Ok, so what does that mean for demo day? Well, it means that our light doesn’t come from our own might. Our energy, our light, our enthusiasm...all comes from God. Ultimately it’s not about us. What we do today is just a start of the glory God will work in this neighborhood through us and through this family.  Sure, we will change the look and functionality of this home, but more importantly we will shine the light of Christ.

So let’s get after it, remembering we are here for God’s glory….a much higher calling than just fixing a house.

Prayer: Dear Lord, the creator of light. Help our witness, which is our words, actions and deeds, to reflect the light of Christ at this home, at our camp and all throughout this week.  Amen.

Cultivate Summer feelings

We're getting more settled into Winnsboro and it's starting to REALLY feel like summer.
My summers for the past 6 years have included Salkehatchie. This week I got to ride around our
beautiful county with Steve McDonald to visit the 11 Salkehatchie sites and hand out popsicles.
There is something so reassuring in the ritual of bringing popsicles (something I’ve done at every
SC church I’ve worked at) to a Salkehatchie job site.  

“Hey! Great job! Your roof is looking awesome! Anyone want a popsicle?”
It’s fun and affirming act; something done at camps around our state for the 40 years of Salkehatchie
ministry. This year is the 40th anniversary of Salkehatchie, it's that amazing. Fairfield County is one
of 46 camps around South Carolina this year. That’s a huge impact to our community and to our state.
The world truly is our parish!  I’m proud that First United Methodist Winnsboro is a strong supporter
of the Fairfield County camp.

So, happy summer! Have a popsicle and say a prayer for our Salk campers and the families they are
helping around our county and our state!

#Winning with you!

Pastor Meg

Cultivate Arrival

We have arrived....It has been a joy to move to Winnsboro despite all the inherent unpleasantness of packing and unpacking. Not only did we arrive at a lovely parsonage and a wonderful church; I feel like we have arrived in the sense that we are very lucky to be in Winnsboro. It is a gift to serve a church with people who want to help! I've jokingly said "I have adults now!!" It is a joy to know that ministry is not just the Meg (and John supporting) show. Wow. That is very cool and makes me excited for the potential here at FUMC.  What will ministry look like with a team?  We have arrived!

I'm getting settled into the office with the help of many volunteers. We're getting settled in the parsonage also with the help of many volunteers and my parents who came to help. We still have a few more boxes to unpack, rooms to set up and lots of art to hang but the house is coming together nicely. Some of that settling in John and I just need to live into while being in the house. We're meeting the neighbors. I sincerely think John and I are going to enjoy living in Winnsboro. I did not realize how much I missed small town life until we moved.  

Already WINNing with you!

Pastor Meg

Cultivate the Move

This is going to be a quick post. We’re back from Catawba Salkehatchie...it was a HOT and successful week. The Epworth kids were amazing and the 2 staff were even more impressive. It was also a joy to visit our Pleasant Hill UMC family. (John grew up at Plesant Hill UMC and I worked there for 2.5 years before I came to Epworth.) It was good week but John and I are exhausted. The last Sunday at Epworth was great, the kids signed my minion stole and that was a special (if bittersweet) moment.

We’re now really in the throws of moving...boxes are everywhere! I must admit I’m a little bit over this stage; I’m ready to be settled.  Work is happening to the Epworth parsonage so we’re balancing several worker folk as well as putting things in boxes. This week, I’m prepping the bulletin, the sermon for Sunday and finishing up the VBS curriculum tweaks. John is back to teaching; summer classes started today. Busy busy, but still trying to carve out a few minutes here and there to breathe deep, prepare for the move, the new start and listen for God’s guidance.

We’re on target to move July 6 and I will commute to the office July 2nd and 3rd.  I plan to set up the office Monday and hopefully start some visiting. We’ll see!

Love to all. I cannot wait for Sunday July 1! Looking forward to WINNing with you!

Pastor Meg
#theCooksWinn

Cultivate Aloha

You may have read the title for this post and thought where is she going? Aloha? Well, my folks have been in Hawaii this week, visiting my sister and her family who are stationed there. (Go Navy!) I’ve seen a lot of gorgeous pictures and heard a good amount of “Aloha!” According to the Oxford Dictionary, “Aloha” is the Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone. Aloha fits. John and I are in a season of aloha both greeting and parting. This week we attended Annual Conference where new appointments were fixed by the Bishop making our move to First UMC Winnsboro official-official. Thursday, we attended an incredible minion-themed going away party at Epworth with the campus, volunteers and staff. It was sweet and touching. We are saying goodbye and hello. Aloha makes it sound simple though I know it is more complicated. It’s odd to be both sad to leave and very excited to start something new. Sentiment aside, I move forward remembering what Bishop Holston reminded us, God goes with us. And I lean into my assurance and trust that this move is in a God’s plan for Epworth and First UMC Winnsboro and that is something to be excited about.

Thankfully, we don’t have too much time to sit and ponder between packing, cleaning, and gearing up for Catawba Salkehatchie. The big mission trip which is in one week! Organizing 7 youth is keeping me very busy and makes me most grateful for the 2 outstanding Epworth staff who are also going to Salk this year. As well as the flexibility of the Catawba Camp director! And don’t worry, John will be coming to Salk too, he works in the kitchen at the Catawba camp with his twin brother (and many more amazing folks) taking good care of all of us campers. The food at the Catawba camp is truly something to write home about...the food alone may be why 3 of the 7 youth are attending this year! It is also a camp that accommodates food allergies, which makes it perfect for me to bring teams to. Pleasant Hill UMC, the host church, is where I served as the Director of Christian Education etc. before coming to Epworth as well as being John’s childhood church...so it’s a bit like going home to head to Catawba Salkehatchie. Side note: I met, and got to know, John at Columbia Salkehatchie not at Pleasant Hill; though I had pretty much met his whole family before I met him!

Speaking of home, this Sunday is homecoming Sunday at Epworth. I look forward to seeing the alumni and hearing Rev Holler preach the sermon...a rare treat to not preach on a Sunday. It’s been a season of big Sundays and busyness between graduation, homecoming, Salkehatchie and well moving! And I know starting at FUMC will be a big season between welcome Sunday, Fairfield Salkehatchie and VBS. I hope you’re ready! First UMC I look forward to “WINNing” with you!

Pastor Meg
#TheCooksWinn