Praying Through the Overwhelm

Last week, we restarted our in-person, monthly prayer service. In preparation, I thought about all of the suffering and uncertainty in the world: from recovery efforts in Haiti to unrest in Afghanistan, from fires in the west to storms in the east. Where do we begin in our prayers?

This is where two types of prayers come in handy to get us started: those in the Word of God and in words that God has given to writers. From the psalms to Paul’s prayers for the church in his letters, and everything in between, the Bible is full of words we can offer when our own fail. Another resource that I love to draw from are prayers that have already been written by others. I often find myself starting with those, and before long, I am adding my own words to the already written ones. Prayer does not have to be isolated; we are created to draw from wells of wisdom already prepared for us.

One such prayer that has helped me this past week was one we shared in at the prayer service last week. Written by Douglas McKelvey, it is published in his collection, Every Moment Holy Volume II, devoted to loss, death, and hope. The title is, “A Liturgy for a Time of Widespread Suffering,” and I love this part:

The Lord’s throne in heaven is yet occupied,
his rule is eternal, and his good purposes
on earth will be accomplished forever.
So we need never be swayed by the brief and
passing panics of this age.
You are the king of the ages, O Christ,
and history is held in your Father’s hands.

I would encourage you to check out a link to the whole liturgy that we posted on Facebook and Instagram last week. My hope is that these words, based on the Word of God, will lead to the utterance of your own words of prayer. And we can rest in confidence that our God in heaven hears, He cares, and even when we can’t see it, He is indeed working.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

What Is Bringing Us Joy In August

Once a month, I enjoy sharing with you about my latest favorites in music, movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts. One of my favorite questions to ask friends when we get together is, “What is bringing you joy lately?” I love hearing the variety of answers to this question! My hope is that in sharing what brought me joy will help you to reflect on what brought you joy.

Stillwater (movie): I’ve already referenced this movie in a sermon because it is full of insights to our human condition. Matt Damon plays Bill Baker, a father from Oklahoma who travels to France regularly to visit his daughter who is in prison. There is a lot in this movie that goes back to searching for the truth. Did his daughter actually commit this crime? If not, then who did? What is the true story? The director also wrote and directed the movie, Spotlight, one of my all-time favorite movies that is also about justice, truth, and integrity.

Revival Season by Monica West (book): What a perfect read for the summer, even if it is not a typical, light-hearted “summer read.” Set in tent revivals in the hottest months of the year, Revival Season is told by a teenager narrator, Miriam, whose father is not only a pastor but also has the spiritual gift of healing. She adores her father—until she witnesses some events that remind her how humanly broken we all are. West captures well the movement of the Holy Spirit within a faith tradition—and how one young woman longs to hold on to that faith when everything she believed starts to fall apart.

Manifest (TV show): I knew nothing about this show before clicking “play” on the pilot episode. I’m glad that I knew nothing because (a) I’m not a fan of science fiction and (b) I would have avoided it if I knew about the sci-fi element. The show is not for everyone, and I really wasn’t a fan of the third season, but what I did love about the series was the constant reminders from the characters to pay attention to and recognize signs. It is set in the aftermath of a chaotic event, and it’s easy to find parallels to some of our current events.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Welcome Home, Dr. Foster

The Child Development Center (CDC) Board is delighted to announce the hiring of our new CDC director, Dr. Barbara Ann Foster.

Dr. Foster is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a PhD in Educational Administration. She earned her Masters in K-12 Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University, also, and her Bachelors in K-8 Education from Mississippi University for Women. Dr. Foster has served in the field of education in some capacity her whole career.

She grew up in West Point, attended and worked as a teacher and assistant principal in the West Point School System until she and her husband, Aubrey, were relocated to Louisiana for his job. She was employed by the Louisiana Department of Education as a consultant for Federal Programs for over 17 years. Dr. Foster has a passion for working with students and wants to see they receive the best education possible. She seeks to provide a good foundation for today’s children so they will be ready for school.

Dr. Foster, whose friends call her “Barbara Ann,” likes to read, crochet, and piddle around in her flower beds. She possesses many skills, known to her former coworkers as the “tech guru” always willing to help coworkers figure out how to operate documents, forms, files, spreadsheets, and such. She also created the Risk Assessment Rating Form used by her Division to determine school systems for yearly monitoring. She is the daughter of Liv Brand and the late Charles Brand. She and Aubrey have two daughters Marlana Bowen of Zachary, Louisiana, and Calleen Gable of West Point, Mississippi (both former employees at the Child Development Center) and six grandchildren. Dr. Foster is looking forward to returning home to serve as the Director of the First United Methodist Church Child Development Center.

Stay tuned for more information about meeting & greeting Dr. Foster, and please be in prayer for the CDC in this time of transition. We offer a huge thanks to our CDC Board for their faithful service. Members are:

George Purnell, Chair                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pam Carson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Anna Thompson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ralph Weems
Dee Echols                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Anna Dill
Sara Frances Stubbs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dr. Darian Duckworth, Pastor
Julie Gray, Financial Secretary

“Moving Forward, Remaining Vigilant”

Dearly Beloved Friends,

Most of you are probably aware of a recent spike in the delta variant of covid-19 here in Mississippi. Be reassured that members of our church’s covid-19 task force have been in touch with each other, read updates from the Department of Health and Annual Conference, and, of course, have been praying.

At this time, we are not making any changes to our church’s policies or upcoming activities. However, we do want to share some reminders to help keep all of us healthy and safe.

1. If you are not feeling well, or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for covid, we ask that you would stay home from in-person activities at the church and join us for virtual worship until you are feeling better. And let us know if you want to be on the prayer list!

2. If you are more comfortable wearing a mask while in the church building, please do so. The CDC recently recommended the wearing of masks while indoors again, and we understand if you wish to wear one. Keep in mind that there are a number of reasons someone might choose to wear a mask.

3. If you would like to attend in-person worship but are feeling uneasy about sitting too close to others, remember that there is plenty of room to spread out in the 8:45 service.

Feel free to reach out to me or a member of the task force if you have any questions or concerns. As we move forward in God’s mission for our church, let us remain vigilant in caring for one another.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

What Is Bringing Us Joy In July

Once a month, I enjoy sharing with you about my latest favorites in music, movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts. One of my favorite questions to ask friends when we get together is, “What is bringing you joy lately?” I love hearing the variety of answers to this question! My hope is that in sharing what brought me joy will help you to reflect on what brought you joy.

Pink: All I Know So Far (documentary): If you are familiar with the rock star, Pink (also spelled P!nk), you are likely wondering, “Why is the preacher listening to Pink and watching a movie about her?!” Quite simply it’s because Pink and her music have brought me joy for a long time. Some of the lyrics may be R-rated and the content not for young ears, but she performs with an energy and zeal that makes me smile—and laugh! This documentary follows her preparations to perform to a sold-out stadium of over 140,000 people—all with a husband and two young kids in tow.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reed (book): Like the Pink documentary, this book recommendation has nothing to do with faith or church. It was simply an engaging and entertaining “beach read,” even though I read most of it on my back porch area. Set in the early 1980s, it is the fictitious story of the four adult children of a rock star who throw a huge party in Malibu every year. Again, it’s not for young eyes and has R-rated moments, but it was a relaxing trip, and I loved getting to know these characters.

Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham: And here is a recommendation created for the church! Phil Wickham is a fantastic worship leader and recording artist whose newest album feels like a glimpse of heaven. I’ve quoted the title track to multiple people since its release at the end of June, particularly this second verse: “Every prayer we prayed in desperation / every song we sang through doubt and fear / In the end we’ll see that it was worth it / When he returns to wipe away our tears.”

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

New FUMC Staff

On behalf of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, I am delighted to share that we have approved the hiring of three new staff members. We are so thankful for the gifts that each of them bring to our church’s leadership. All of these are part-time positions. Please be sure to welcome them and to thank members of the SPRC, especially Chair Laura Tinsley, for their good work.

Stacy Hays, Director of Family Ministries: Stacy is a long-time member of FUMC whom many of you already know, and we look forward to the experience and servant’s heart she brings to this position. She has most recently served as Mission/Outreach Chair on the Administrative Council and also works with the United Way.

Judy Sanders, Director of Children’s Ministries: Judy moved to West Point from Louisville last year, but she is no stranger to FUMC. She is “Bruff’s mom” and brings over 50 years as a schoolteacher and Vacation Bible School director to our church family. We look forward to the enthusiasm and vision that Judy brings to this position.

Camden Shock, Interim Director of Youth Ministries: Camden has served as our youth intern for the past three years and is a student at Mississippi State University, with plans to graduate in December. Camden has faithfully attended and assisted at youth gatherings during that time. We look forward to the ideas and energy that he brings to this position. We also welcome Kaeley Tackett as our new youth intern. Kaeley is a college student, works at Jubilations, and looks forward to working with the young women in our youth group.

Let us be in prayer for our church staff, and thank you for your support of the SPRC’s work. God has a great year in store for us!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Members of Staff Parish Relations Committee
Chris Jester, Laura Tinsley, Linda Drake, Laura Stewart, Harry Stevens, Laurann Harrell, Shane Alpe, Vandy Stubbs, Barbara Bryan, Melanie Sanders, Bill Maclean, Dr. Darian Duckworth

What Is Bringing Us Joy In June

Once a month, I enjoy sharing with you about my latest favorites in music, movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts. One of my favorite questions to ask friends when we get together is, “What is bringing you joy lately?” I love hearing the variety of answers to this question! My hope is that in sharing what brought me joy will help you to reflect on what brought you joy.

Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella (book): I read this book while on vacation in Chattanooga recently, and I startled my fellow diners in restaurants multiple times by laughing out loud. Then I made my fellow diners look at me with concern because I was crying as I read the touching ending. Elizabeth Pasarella grew up in Memphis, TN, and now calls New York City home, a place that is very different from her upbringing but is truly her home. I first read her work in Real Simple magazine (she also writes for Southern Living). She is a wonderful and entertaining writer!

Baby Take My Hand by Jess Ray (music): This newest release is by one half of the musical duo, Mission House, whose music I’ve also recommended in the space. The album was a wonderful companion on my vacation as well, especially, “Days To Come,” which ask, “Why don’t you come and laugh with me, laugh at the days to come?” Ray’s faith is evident in all of the songs without being overwhelming, and I love her voice.

Mare of Eastown (Limited TV series): This series is for mature audiences only, but its characters and setting are worth paying Eastown, Pennsylvania, a visit. Kate Winslet plays a local detective named Mare who is investigating a recent murder. She’s also dealing with a tragic loss in her own life. The series deals with very real, difficult issues, and yet there is a deep sense of community among the people even amid their conflicts. I found myself caring about these people and wanting to learn more about them.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Obeying the Voice

Because baseball is such an exciting part of the summer season, I am sharing in this space an excerpt from something my dad wrote for my blog in 2018 about one of his (and my!) favorite movies.

In the movie, Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella heard a voice say, “If you build it he will come” and started construction on a major league baseball field in the middle of his corn farm after he was able to “see it” in his soul. Then he sat back and waited for his father’s baseball hero to show up, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. However, Jackson had died almost 40 years earlier. It seemed crazy to believe but in the depths of his heart Ray knew to do one thing: Obey the Voice. So he did. But then he waited and waited as discouragement crouched at home plate.

Ray had to endure doubts, ridicule of peers, rejection, and self-condemnation. It reminds me of an obscure carpenter named Joseph who had a dream, believed an angel’s words that his fiancé was with child by the Holy Spirit, took her as his wife, traveled 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and watched God’s son enter our world among the kingdom’s special farm animals. It was risky. It was difficult. But, it was his obedience to the voice that changed the world.

As a believer in Jesus, I must listen for His voice daily. It comes through the written word, the spoken word, the taught word, and the courage to obey. God is speaking to all of us to take risks. Be kind to those who hate us. Be compassionate to those who judge us. Be forgiving to those who try to ruin our lives. Our dreams can become reality as God molds and shapes us through life’s difficult times knowing He is with us until the end of all.

One of his Dreamers,
Bill Duckworth

Stories of SUMMER: A Worship Series for June and July

The summer season is an ideal time to immerse ourselves in the stories of Scripture. All of us likely can think of a Bible story that has stuck with us over the years: Jonah and the whale, Noah’s ark, Jesus’ parable of the sower, the healing of blind Bartimaeus … The list is almost endless!

Starting June 20 and continuing through the end of July, we will spend our Sunday morning worship hour immersed in some of these stories. I encourage you to read the Scripture passage ahead of time, which you can find every week on the reverse side of this newsletter. As you read, imagine that you have traveled through a time machine and are present when the story is taking place. Think about what you see, smell, and hear. Ask yourself what you are doing when the action of the story is taking place. For example, on June 20, we’ll be talking about David getting ready to fight Goliath. Are you helping David put on his armor? Helping him gather the stones? Or are you hiding in the shadows and simply watching?

Imagining ourselves in the stories of Scripture is a wonderful way to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice speak to us. The more we read these stories, the deeper the roots of Scriptural truth grow in us. Let’s not only be a people who know the stories but are able to tell them with joy to future generations.

I look forward to a great season of sacred storytelling with you!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

What Is Bringing Us Joy In May

Once a month, I enjoy sharing with you about my latest favorites in music, movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts. One of my favorite questions to ask friends when we get together is, “What is bringing you joy lately?” I love hearing the variety of answers to this question! My hope is that in sharing what brought me joy will help you to reflect on what brought you joy.

Sing Street (movie): One of my all-time favorite movies, Once, was written and directed by an Irish filmmaker named John Carney. Sing Street is his second film and is a coming-of-age story of a 16-year old named Conor, who is a student at a Catholic school in Dublin. It is set in the 1980s, and Conor’s band’s music reflects that decade as they pursue their dream: to make a music video! It is sweet and uplifting.

House Lessons: Renovating a Life by Erica Bauermeister (book): I’m only 50 pages into this book and love it. It is a memoir whose title says it all: the author renovates a house with her family, and in the process the reflections are also about life renovations. Each chapter revolves around one part of the renovation process. The house and its details are some of the loveliest characters you’ll meet.

Old Church Basement by Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship (music): The title track includes the line, “It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody.” This is perfect description of this gospel album: familiar lyrics from Scripture with fresh soundtracks. The album took me back to the music of my upbringing with an emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s movement.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian