July 26

Today we have the privilege of hearing from the youth who went to the Montreat Youth Conference. Going to Montreat is a tradition recently revived at Eastminster. The Rev. Jennifer McGee, herself a youth of the church, has gone to Montreat for 30 years in a row. When she was serving on staff here she worked with Julie Rogers-Martin and the Children Youth and Family Ministries Committee to enable five youth to attend Montreat in 2014. This year the number grew to fourteen youth and two adult sponsors, in large part due to the generosity of the EPC congregation which helped make their attendance possible. Attending camps and conferences are important, life changing events, as you will probably hear from the testimonies today. Statistics bear it out. Over 40% of pastors point to camps and conferences as being formative in their “call” to ministry. I’m sure the number is very significant in the “calls” of church officers as well. Supporting such activities with our time, talents and treasures is good stewardship. I was pleased to attend Montreat this year. As I look over the schedule, we spent well over 50 hours engaged directly in worship and spiritual formation activities such as small groups, Bible studies, and journaling. That’s a year of Sunday School with no absences all in one week, all with excellent preachers, teachers and youth from around the country. Add to that exploring the beauty of nature, artistic activities such as pottery making and group-building activities and it is no wonder that lives are changed… and that we all come back a bit tired… yet with stories that have shaped our lives. For me, I was pleased to see the ways in which our youth group handled adversity together. We had a van break down causing a six hour delay on the way up to camp. There was little whining and a lot of good support. The group set a good example when stuck in a fast food restaurant during that time. We remained welcome there. The Youth Council worked with adult leaders to make decisions, maintain the spiritual, and disciplinary climate, and to encourage all. I am very impressed with the leaders of the youth group. One activity was to climb Lookout Mountain. It was not an easy climb, but with encouragement of one another, all kids (and advisors) made it! As a church in an often hostile world, we will have “mountains” to climb as well. I pray that we too support each other and allow God to equip us with that which will allow us to shine the light of Christ in the world. For it is support and teamwork, being the body of Christ, which makes an often meaningless existence become “meaning-full.” Colossians 3:12-17 will be a theme scripture as the youth go forward this year. I commend it to us all for meditation and action: “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Thanks for supporting our youth! Blessings, Tim

July 12, 2015

By the time you read this, I will be off with 30 youth from Eastminster and First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach as we caravan to the Montreat Youth Conference. I trust this will be a life changing experience for us all! Thank you, Eastminster, for the support of the children and youth of our community! Most decisions of faith are made before the age of 17, so this is “prime time” for spiritual growth. Also, 40% of Presbyterian pastors relate that youth camps were formative in experiencing their call to ministry. Please pray for the youth and leaders attending, even as you continue to develop regular patterns of prayer. Speaking of prayer, last week I forwarded a good prayer for times of spiritual attack in Tim’s Tidings and preached on setting aside time, preferably early in the morning, to be still before God. Many of you have a “routine” for doing this, many do not. Here is one that promises to be helpful. You might want to jot down a couple of notes or names by each step to make them your own… and to be ready to see where prayers are answered! (1) In preparation each day find a quiet place where you are unlikely to be interrupted. Read at least a few verses of scripture. The Psalms are excellent for helping us center on God. (2) Close your eyes and give thanks for three personal blessings in your life. (3) Ask God to forgive your mistakes and sins and to give you the strength to forgive others. Name those failings. (4) Ask God to help some person you find it hard to like. (5) Ask for help with your personal problems and needs. Tell God what they are. God knows, but it will help you to verbalize them. (6) Ask God to make you sensitive to at least one person today with whom you can share God's love in word or deed. (7) Ask God for a 24-hour supply of the Holy Spirit so that God’s power and wisdom will fill you. (8) Pray for Christ’s Church in the world and here at Eastminster. (9) Finally, and very importantly, conclude by listening silently for at least three minutes. I am convinced that God still works miracles in our personal lives and through our church. Try this prayer experience. If you need a tenth step to complement the nine above—or to get you started on the steps above—pray for willingness to be available for God and others. Try this exercise in prayer this week. Let me know how it is going next Sunday. May God bless you and guide you until then. See You in Church,