Claiming The Now and The Next

Pastor's Update

Hi Parkway People –

This time of year is always a fast-moving, in-between time.

It's the last sprint of the school year. Graduation parties and planning for the future. It is also a time of shifting away from the busyness of Spring (Holy Week, Easter, Block Party, Taking it to the Streets) and preparing for summer.

When I find myself in these fast-moving, in-between times, I often want to lean forward and press ahead to land in the next season, the next rhythm.

"It will be easier once ___________ (fill in the blank) is past us."

It is an attempt to claim the next without claiming our identity in the now.

Parkway's current sermon series is called Identity – taking time to read and interpret from Scripture who and what our identity, as followers of Christ, truly ought to be in a changing, disconnected world. Part of claiming this identity is to claim unchanging things – the grace of Christ and the love of God are not seasonal pieces of your identity. But there is also a piece of this identity of Christ-follower that is found in claiming not just the next that lies ahead, but also the fast-moving, in-between now.

Looking ahead to May, there are ways that Parkway will celebrate and anticipate changes and possibilities in the now and in the next. My hope and prayer for you and for Parkway is that we all might lean into and claim our identity as followers of Christ in this now, so that we will be ready for whatever comes next.

Take a look at the ways you might plug in and be a part:

General Conference of the United Methodist Church

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church is currently meeting for the first time since 2016 due to COVID delays. This Conference, made up of delegations from conferences across the world, is the main decision making body of the United Methodist Church.

Many are watching and anticipating ways the General Conference will address global reforms related to changing how a world-wide church governs itself, ordination of clergy, addressing LGBTQ inclusion in the Church, and many other topics.

I mention General Conference for two reasons.

However the delegates vote on whatever issue, loud people with online platforms will make noise, create podcasts, and blast out emails. If at any point you have concerns or hear something you do not understand, please feel free to reach out to me at justin@parkwayumc.org

For the sake of openness and transparency, I will host a 'General Conference Debrief' this Sunday (April 28) after the 10.30 service. We will meet around noon in the Worship Center. I will recap the events of the week and you can ask me any questions about the Conference or complicated issues facing the UMC.

Graduation Sunday

On Sunday, May 5th, Parkway will honor and celebrate 2024 graduates.

Our three High School graduates are:

Aidan Foss

Phil Gupton

Clay Watson

On Graduation Sunday, there will be a box for each graduate. Feel free to write them a note congratulating them and wishing them well on their next steps. Boxes will be on the coffee/donut counter in the worship center.

The graduates and their families are invited to join in next door in the Ministry Center for a lunch after the 10.30 worship service.

Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost

On Sunday, May 19th, Parkway will celebrate both the confirmation class of 2024 as full members and participants of the Church, as well as the Holy Day of Pentecost.

Part of the day's celebration will include a baptism in the garden's baptismal pool. The baptismal liturgy will occur towards the end of the 9 o'clock service, and the baptism will take place in the gardens between services, at approximately 10.15. Be there to be a part of a new baptism!

Another way that Parkway will celebrate Pentecost is by receiving new members to the church. Several families have already confirmed they are ready to join and claim that Parkway is the community they want to be a part of and the people they want to follow Jesus with. If you would like to be a part of the group making things official, please reach out to me. I would be thrilled to introduce you to Parkway and Parkway will be thrilled to welcome you into this community and our gospel work.

Prison Ministry

I recently met with Shari Nutter, who is getting more involved with prison ministries at the nearby Vance unit through Christ UMC. The ways of serving and ministering to the men incarcerated at the Vance unit range from helping facilitate Bible studies through the Alpha Program, to helping support programs that help incarcerated fathers stay connected to their children and families, as well as season events like Christmas Angel Trees (provides gifts to their children) and more.

A good way to learn more about the ministry programs is to be a part of a Freedom Walk – essentially a tour of the counseling program and facilities. If you are interested in learning more about prison ministry opportunities, please reach out to me or Shari (snutter@comcast.net) to express interest. We will soon organize a Freedom Walk for anyone interested in learning more about how we can help, love, and serve at the Vance unit.

Friends, there is much in this next season that has a foot in the fast-moving now, and in the possibilities of something new that lies down the road. I can't tell you I know exactly where these possibilities will take you and take Parkway – but wherever it is, the grace of God has prepared us for this moment in ways known and unknown so that we might be a church that meets this moment and the next with hope, purpose, and love.

See you soon!

Justin

Parkway United Methodist Church | parkwayumc.org