Posts Tagged ‘McCarter Elementary’
Getting Thank You’s And An Invite From A Public School
It’s not why we do it…but it sure does feel awesome.
The volunteer coordinator for the McCarter Elementary PTO stopped by today. Her name is Maria and she had this huge manila folder in her arms. Inside were hundreds of hand written notes on various colors of construction paper saying thank you in so many different ways for the all the things we’ve done this year.
I was pretty impressed. If they are going to do this every time we do something, they are going to run out of construction paper and we are going to run out of walls. But I could tell something else was on her mind.
She starts…”So listen, we can’t even begin to describe how thankful we are for this past year. The blankets, the school supplies, Sharefest…the staff and principal just rave about your parish. We don’t want to be overbearing, but I’ve heard that you said that if at anytime we needed something….to ask. Is that right?”
I can’t stop smiling. I mean, I just can’t wipe the grin off my face. I’ve been praying for exactly this – when a need arises at the school, we are the school’s first call. I’m looking at answered prayer, right in front of me. And I know the only reason she is here because we served them first without pretense or agenda.
“That is right. How can we serve you?”
After the sigh of relief, she tells me about a fundraiser they are doing next week – a chili-feed. “It’s a little late notice” – Friday, February 19, 5 to 8pm, Town & Country Christian Church (we’ll have more info in the bulletin this week and on our website later) – “but we were wondering if you could invite your parish?”
“Absolutely. That’s easy. What else?”
“Well…again, don’t want to be overbearing but we’re wondering if your church was interested in helping with the school fair again this year? We’d love to have you again.”
“Absolutely.”
And there you are. That just happened. It’s not a huge deal but it is. I’m just AMPED at this…this God-moment of opportunity. How huge is this? I’m convinced it’s a larger deal for us than them. Love God. Live Connected. Serve All. It’s coming together, slowly and surely.
25 Hours of Seeing God Work
Sunday, August 2
9.00 am
I’ve been up at the church for almost an hour now, listening to the worship team practice, smelling the eggs and sausage from the men’s breakfast. I didn’t go to the breakfast this morning. I normally do but today is going to be a long but an awesome day. We’ll spend some time after church with the worship team interviewing our potential new part-time worship leader, youth have a service tonight where we get to hear what God has done in and through them this summer, potential youth volunteer meeting after that…
But before all of that happens, I have to ‘unpack’ Ephesians 2. Struggling with how to end the message. This is the part of my preaching that I struggle with – landing the plane. It’s not how you start but how you finish. I’ve crash landed a few sermons since I’ve been here. It’s painful. I feel like I’m in the groove to start, have good insights in the middle then when it comes time to end it…wheels off the wagon. I’ve slammed it down in the runaway a couple of times and just prayed that no one was injured.
This is where the craft of speaking comes into play. I REALLY want to get better at this. The creative team that meets every week helps with this. The teaching time must end with a point of response. What does God want us to do with this information? How should we respond? It’s not really worship until that happens. It’s just a learning experience, a mental exercise. I want more than that. I want worship, an encounter, a transformational opportunity.
9.20 am
I get out of my office to get wired up and see some old, dear friends from Emporia – the Euseys. I met Don at BK every week at 8 am for about a year. He’ll never know how much he helped me. I wish I had words. Lucy is one of the most creative, insightful people I’ve ever been around. I love catching up with them. It’s not enough time with them.
9.30 am
Service starts with video of last week’s VBS. We had several kids accept Christ last week, we gathered over 1,000 items of school supplies for McCarter Elementary School. I love to see children ‘get’ the gospel but on the other hand I know there will be a time in their life where the re-evaluate their decision. They’ll question the validity, wrestle with the depth of which they made this decision. Almost every kid that makes a decision as a child goes through this. It’s why I’ve never been comfortable baptizing children. I want them to go through that process first, then get baptized so that it means something to them. At any rate, I’ll still think it’s important to teach kids the truth in a way that can understand it. It’s worth the process.
10.43 am
First service over and it was good. I do feel like I struggled with landing the plane but it wasn’t a crash landing. Interview with Brandon was great, plugging the youth service tonight.
10.55 am
Second service is about to start. I’ve met numerous new families that are starting to become regulars at Western Hills. I’m nervous. I love the new faces, I love the slow growth we’re seeing. The need for Life Group leaders who reproduce followers of Jesus is increasing. It’s the missing piece of the puzzle for us. We’re not unique in this. Most churches have a hard time reproducing leaders. This is where we are starting in a couple weeks with a Turbo Group.
We know that people want more than just a good worship experience from their church (as they should). They want a group of other believers to do life with, to serve with. To be discipled and to disciple. We’re heading that direction, we will get there but the unanswerable question is this – will the ‘newbies’ hang on while we get there? Will they go there with us or will they bolt for another church that is further down the road than we are? Ultimately I know this is a ridiculous stupid discussion to have with myself. We are who we are right now and God’s working on us and He’s moving us on His timeframe. Trust that, not anything else. Rome wasn’t built in a day…
12.10 pm
For the first time in a long time, I actually feel decent about how the service ended. Big point this morning – Objects of wrath is self and/or Satan inflicted, not God inflicted. God wants us to be objects of his great, unmeasurable mercy. But it only comes through Jesus Christ – his death, burial and resurrection. Had some folks pray with me after the service…wrestling with the grace of God. It’s a good thing.
12.30 pm
Worship team is meeting with Rick Stones. We’re thinking Rick is the next worship leader for us at Western Hills. It’s been unreal how this process came about. After working with him 4 weeks, seeing him lead practices, work with creative team, how he reacts to critiques – I’m impressed. We’ve had them over for dinner, lunch. I played 17 holes of golf with him. (Don’t ask about 18.) I’ve never been this positive or sure of hire in my life. I’m floored that God has moved the Stones and Western Hills this direction.
Worship team asks some great questions. How’s your walk with Jesus? What is going to be difficult for you moving forward? What prompted this movement at this time? Rick is himself and it’s just wonderful to see it all click. Randi (wife) – gosh…how blessed are we going to be with this couple? The team is amped about them, the future, working with Rick and Randi. We go to Church Council Wednesday night to affirm this. I’m becoming a crying idiot because I’m just overwhelmed at what God is doing.
3.00 pm
Finally home, time for a quick nap before youth service.
5.30 pm
Back at church to help prep for youth service.
7.00 pm
Service is over and the word ‘awesome’ was used at least 97 times. And what incredible life change stories we got to hear! It was….awesome. (98)
8.00 pm
While students are playing volleyball and eating pizza and ice cream, we get a room of around 11 potential youth volunteers to talk about the future of student ministry. I’m floored by the response. We have the makings of an incredible team here. I’m once again humbled at what God is doing in our people. Looks like we’re going to get at least 4 new coaches, lots of support help out this crew.
9.55 pm
Still in gym laughing and goofing off with Rob Ginder. I’ve found a new goofing off buddy. Of course, Lisa T has called me down a few times in meetings. I’m guessing this will continue – us goofing off, Lisa getting us back on task.
10.30 pm
Home, put kids in bed, catch up on Burn Notice.
Monday, August 3rd
8.30 am
Up at church, loading up 3 cars to take school supplies to McCarter Elementary. Dale and Marion Liby are here to help as is Brandon and Hannah. It’s 50 some odd bags of school supplies plus a huge bin.
9.00 am
Get to school, principal is there. She sees the stuff (we’ll have a video on Sunday) and I can tell she’s not sure what to say. She tells us this is huge for them. Many students don’t have all the supplies, this lets them supplement them in a way that isn’t embarrassing. We talk about the mats that Marion and the ladies bible study have made.
10.00 am
Back to WHBC with Brandon.
BG: “That was cool. This is really what it’s about.”
GE: “Yeah…”
I want to say more but that pretty much summed it all up. An extraordinary 25 hours.
McCarter Beautiful Day
It’s taken me awhile to get this on here..but here is how we helped with the school fair at McCarter.
Let Your Light Shine…
I cried over the phone today.
Then again at dinner.
But let me back up and tell you why first. I get a phone call today, 3pm.
“This is Grant.”
“Hi. My name is Sue (not real name), I’m with 501 USD (school district that kids are in) and are the father of a 5th grade boy at McCarter?”
“Yes.”
My heart gets very heavy, very quick.
“And you’re the new preacher in town, right?”
“Yes.”
I can’t count the number of parents I’ve talked to, listened to, cried with, sat with when they get news that their kid has done something utterly, profanely stupid. I’ve seen the hurt, frustration, anger, confusion. I’ve comforted as best as I can but right now in this instant all I can think of is — I’m about to be one of those parents.
“Well, Mr. English….I don’t know how to say this. I really don’t. I’ve seen a lot of Christian families, dealt with a lot of Christian parents. Almost all of them have been very combative, very judgmental and their kids hellions.”
“But I’ve never seen anything like your son. He’s respectable, honorable, likeable, and honest. He’s smart as a whip and he’s not one of them sissy boys either. Do you know that I overheard some boys talking with him and they asked him about why he didn’t do something and he told them – “Because I love Jesus.” And since he’s a good athlete, they left him alone and respected him.”
“So…Cooper isn’t in trouble?”
“In trouble? No! Well he did get in a little trouble for playing in the water fountain after gym. But when we confronted those boys about it – he was the only one that said he’d been throwing water and he’d clean it up. He was just being a boy, no big deal…but I also heard about what you and your church did for McCarter at the school fair.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, I’m a pagan. Never saw much use for God but after seeing your son and actually your girls as well plus what you guys are doing at McCarter…I may have to rethink this Jesus guy. You wouldn’t mind if I showed up at your church one Sunday, would you?”
I can’t really answer her because I’m crying. I’m humbled beyond measure. I stumble out yes, love to talk with you, answer any questions. We just wanted to help McCarter out. That’s it. No big deal.
We talk for a few minutes more, hang up.
At dinner tonight, I replay the whole conversation for the family. Amy tears up. I tear up. The whole family tears up. So I’m becoming a cry baby as I get older but I’m also astonished at how God moves. I shouldn’t be…but I am.
We’re not great parents. We’re parents who love Jesus and love our kids and are trying to figure out how not to ruin the gifts God gave us. I take shortcuts at times…get lazy…get frustrated. I’ve spanked the wrong kid, yelled when I’ve should have listened, and pushed when I should have hugged.
But tonight…I’ve never been prouder of my kids.
Shine…Let them wonder what you’ve got.