Pastor Frank

Pastor Frank invites YOU to participate in:
The Backpack Bash at Northwood Hills Elementary today at 3:30;
The Community Event Saturday on the parking lot, 10:00-12:00;
Blessing of the Backpacks and 3rd Grade Bibles: Sunday at 10:30
The Community Event Saturday on the parking lot, 10:00-12:00;
Blessing of the Backpacks and 3rd Grade Bibles: Sunday at 10:30

Once the Spring Valley Preschool goes on summer break in June, things usually get pretty quiet around here. Not this year! Since the beginning of June, our basement and other rooms around the campus have been filled with college interns and elementary-aged children throughout the week. The Project Transformation kiddos and interns have helped keep the energy up during June and July. It has been a joy interacting with the interns- hearing their stories of home and school. One of the interns, currently studying at TWU in Denton, is originally from Missouri City, a suburb of Houston. Her parents are both ordained UMC clergy, and she is considering attending seminary in the future. Missouri City FUMC, her home church, was where I began my ministry journey. I served at that church for two years as a part-time youth director before relocating to Dallas to attend seminary myself. Blessed be the ties that bind! By the way, this was in 1993 and 1994, before the intern was born! I need to catch my breath for a moment after coming face to face with my advancing age! Oy.

Anyway, back to PT. One of the great things about Project Transformation is that it brings United Methodists together. These nearby churches sent Bookworm Buddies to Spring Valley this summer: FUMC Allen, FUMC Richardson, Custer Road UMC, and Northaven UMC. Our family served at Custer Road from 2013 to 2016, so it was great to reconnect with those saints. Blessed be the ties that bind! And of course, Spring Valley was founded nearly 70 years ago by the Rev. Jack Gibson, who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of serving at Custer Road – 30 years that began upon Jack’s retirement from full-time ministry. Jack, of course, lives at Highland Springs, where many Custer Road and Spring Valley members reside. I preached at their chapel service last week. The ties keep binding! After the flooding in the Hill Country two weeks ago, PT posted this on their Facebook page: We grieve with the families who have been affected by the catastrophic floods in the Guadalupe Region of Central Texas. We mourn with and hold in prayer all those who have lost loved ones, homes, and security. As summer camp providers, we are especially heartbroken for the children, young adults, and camp directors who have lost their lives, as well as for loved ones who await news. We pray for the first responders and helpers who continue to work in the wake of such tragedy and for the Rio Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church as they provide disaster relief. At Project Transformation, one of our core values is connectional ministry. We believe in the power of relationships and good neighboring to multiply resources for a time such as this in our communities. Project Transformation North Texas and many of our fellow chapters along with PT National will be donating a portion of the funds raised for PT Day of Giving on July 17 to flood relief efforts. While helping feels important, we know that there is nothing that can dull the ache of such grief. We hold on to our faith that God is with us, even here in the most unbearable, and we pray for the ways we can move to provide care and compassion to those most in need. Project Transformation and the relief efforts in the Hill Country- partially funded by grants from UMCOR- reveal the vitality of our United Methodist connection. In a sermon called “Thoughts Upon Methodism,” John Wesley said: I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out. The power Wesley referred to in the sermon is revealed in our connectedness, whether grown over years within local churches or across larger bodies serving together. We are indeed one body in Christ, and we are not a dead sect! Next week will be the final week of Project Transformation at our church for this summer. I appreciate the work of Tony, Jerry, Nina, and all of our facilities team for keeping everything clean and well-maintained. Thanks to Maeson for being our staff liaison. It is extra work on the staff’s part, but keeping our building open for daily ministry is a good thing! Several people from many churches have thanked us for hosting. PT leadership was also here this week and extended their thanks. I hope Project Transformation returns to us next summer. Blessed be the ties that bind,

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-flooding-updates-kerrville-camp-mystic/

Acts 16:25-40

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

29 The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” 32 They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. 33 Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God.

35 The next morning the legal authorities sent the police to the jailer with the order “Release those people.”

36 So the jailer reported this to Paul, informing him, “The authorities sent word that you both are to be released. You can leave now. Go in peace.”

37 Paul told the police, “Even though we are Roman citizens, they beat us publicly without first finding us guilty of a crime, and they threw us into prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? No way! They themselves will have to come and escort us out.” 38 The police reported this to the legal authorities, who were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 They came and consoled Paul and Silas, escorting them out of prison and begging them to leave the city.

40 Paul and Silas left the prison and made their way to Lydia’s house where they encouraged the brothers and sisters. Then they left Philippi.

 

A new Superman movie comes out this week. I can remember seeing the 1978 movie with Christopher Reeve at the Bay Cinema 4 in my hometown- I was seven years old. Superman has always been my favorite super hero. I have seen every Superman movie, the good ones and the bad. I rewatch trailers on YouTube when I need to feel inspired. But not the new movie- in fact Miles and I ran out of the auditorium the other day when it started. I’m sure it inspires panic in some, but we don’t want the movie spoiled!

Superman was created by a couple of 20 somethings from Brooklyn, NY during the Great Depression. First published in 1938, the stories lifted up people who were suffering and in need of both escape from current struggles and hope for a better reality. He is all-powerful, a god-like presence in the world who protects and saves. He can do literally anything, can show up at just the right moment, can somehow hear the cries of those in need and deliver them. What makes Superman stand out for me is that he is the embodiment of hope and a better future. He understands his mission as lifting people up- inspiring them.

Our scripture story from Acts takes place in Philippi, a Roman colony in Greece where Paul and Silas were sent by the Holy Spirit. After a few days, they find themselves outside of the city the city walls, where a woman named Lydia and several other women met for prayer. Lydia listens to Paul’s witness and is moved. She and her entire household are baptized- the first converts to Christianity on the European continent- and Lydia’s house becomes a sort of home base for Paul and Silas and their ministry. Walking through the city, Paul becomes annoyed with a fortune teller whose spirit announces to everyone: “They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” Paul calls the spirit out of the woman, an enslaved person. When her owners find out their revenue stream is gone, they accuse Paul and Silas, and the two missionaries find themselves in jail.

That night, as they are singing and praying, sharing their witness, an earthquake destroys the jail. The doors are open, and the guard assumes everyone has escaped- he is ready to take his own life. “Don’t hurt yourself!,” Paul shouts. We’re all still here! The jailor, amazed, asks what he must do to be saved. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved- you and your entire household,” Paul replies. And salvation comes to another family in Philippi. 

Two days ago, flood waters tore through Kerr county here in Texas, including the grounds of Camp Mystic, a place close to Christy’s heart. Christy has spent roughly a third of her life at Mystic as a camper or counselor. She was very close to the owners of the camp. Once I drove there to pick her up after a couple of weeks and she proudly introduced me to everyone and showed off the camp. She was alight with joy. She often describes Camp Mystic as a place of serenity and peace in a hostile world- a place to escape. But even Mystic wasn’t impervious to the brokenness of the world. Many campers have died and others are still missing, beloved staff are lost, and hearts across Texas are broken. 

In the movies, Superman would arrive in Philippi at just the right time to rescue people from the earthquake. In the movies, Superman would arrive at just the right time in Kerr County to rescue the children and staff from the floods. In the movies, Superman never has time to offer what really leads to healing and well-being for the long term: the gift of presence. There is always another person to be rescued, another disaster to bring under control. But here is the reality, as painful as it is for the eight year old inside of me to hear: Superman isn’t real. There isn’t a hero we can call who will show up immediately, always do the right thing, and deliver us from whatever calamity we are facing. What we have is faith: faith in a Messiah who has all power, faith in a God who has delivered, but faith doesn’t promise that we will never suffer. God’s power to save is revealed in first responders and staff who step in to the danger to deliver others. 

While Jesus never promises to prevent storms from coming, Jesus is a presence in the midst of the storm and has power to bring peace and calm in the midst of it. Jesus promises to never leave nor forsake us. Divine love is perfect, never ending, and we cannot be separated from it. Superhuman, god-like powers do not bring wholeness and restoration in the say way as words of love and compassion. Those are the real superpowers. 

It was the words of Paul and Silas that led to the conversion of Lydia’s and the jailor’s households. In the face of tragedies like Camp Mystic or the scary diagnosis a loved one just received, or the uncertain times we live in, the best we can do is pray and offer comforting words grounded in good theology. Our tendency is to try to explain the unexplainable, to find some meaning in the suffering by sharing our limited understanding. Let’s not do that. Every post or comment saying something like “God’s plan” or “God needed this” or “God did this because” will only bring further harm. God does not “take” our loved ones when they die; God welcomes them into paradise. God offers salvation and perfect love for us all. God is not angry and vengeful, awaiting the opportunity to punish our wrongdoing by claiming innocent lives. God offers us comfort and peace, strength for today and hope for tomorrow, as the hymn says.

I hope the new Superman movie is good- but it will only be a two-hour escape from the hurts of our lives and our world. We live in a world torn apart by sin; and because of human sin, our relationship with God and the created order was broken. This brokenness hurts God’s heart, and we long for a day when things will be set right. We know we are not there yet. But the love of God in Christ still endures despite the brokenness we see and experience. The words we offer to each other and our neighbors offer healing and hope. And even more than our words, our presence- being there for each other when we suffer- has tremendous power. I know our congregation will want to participate generously with recovery efforts following the floods in the Hill Country, and when the Horizon Texas Conference shares next steps in the coming days we will make those available. Generosity, loving words, compassionate hearts- these are the superpowers available to us through our Savior Jesus Christ.

In a moment we will gather around this sacred table to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus instituted this meal as a means of grace- a reminder of his constant presence with us and his love for all of humanity. As we kneel or stand at the railing, we bring all of our worry, our fear, our pain and grief, our joy and hope in the Lord’s promises. We offer all of them to Christ, and he receives them all. We are all welcome. To prepare ourselves to receive this gift, let us prepare our hearts and mind first by confessing our need for God’s love.

WE CONFESS OUR NEED FOR GOD

All: Almighty God, we confess our need of you.

One: We take so much of our lives for granted, but in the end we cannot rely on our own strength or that of others.

All: Almighty God, we confess our need of you.
One: We have enjoyed the blessings of self-reliance, but in the end we cannot rely on our own selves to do what is right or good.

 

All: Almighty God, we confess our need of you.
One: We have built cities, and levees, and power grids to overcome the power of nature,
but in the end we cannot rely on even the best things we have built.

 

All: Almighty God, we confess our need of you.
We can rely only on you.
Into your hands we commend our lives,
for you are our Rock and our Redeemer.
Have mercy on us, Lord. Have mercy.
One: When we confess our weakness, God makes us strong. When we confess our sins, God makes us righteous through Jesus Christ.

 

All: When we confess our need for God, God draws near. May the peace of God strengthen, cleanse, and hold us,
now and always. Amen.

Last Sunday Christy, Linus and I wore special shirts to worship marking Caitlin’s Day of Love. Two of our closest friends, Richard and Anne Rogers, lost their daughter Caitlin three years ago to a horrific murder-suicide. On the anniversary of her death, we wear these shirts to promote healthy relationships and to find a larger meaning in the terrible pain of our friends. Anne, Richard and their son Nick partnered with One Love – https://www.joinonelove.org – a national non-profit with the goal of ending relationship abuse. They empower young people with tools and resources to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities. Their website has tons of great resources to share.

The United Methodist Church also has many resources to share. This page has everything from surveys to calls to action by individuals and churches to scriptural reflections on the nature of violence- which conflicts with God’s ultimate vision for humanity. I also found a small group study around courageous conversations dealing with gun violence: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/courageous-conversation-about-gun-violence

Here are some brief scriptures to illuminate the discussion:

·      Matthew 5:9, 38-41 – peacemakers, turn the other cheek

·      Romans 12:19 – do not take revenge

·      Ecclesiastes 9:18 – wisdom over weapons

·      Exodus 20:13 – thou shall not kill

·      Leviticus 19:16 – do not endanger your neighbor’s life

·      Matthew 26:52 – those who live by the sword, die by the sword

 

Following worship and a quick lunch, we drove to Coppell, where Caitlin and Nick grew up, for a workshop attended by parents and youth highlighting the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. After the workshop everyone gathered for a group photo. I am so proud of the Rogers family, how they honor Caitlin’s memory by finding a deeper meaning in it- helping others. In a culture that often glorifies violence and death, seeking ways to bring healing to the victims- and preventing future pain- is a blessing.

Love you Caitlin, Richard, Anne and Nick,