Honoring Bishop & Mrs. Swanson

Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr., has served as our spiritual leader in the Mississippi Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church for 10 years, and this year he will enter into a well-deserved retirement. Congregations across Mississippi have been invited to honor his & Mrs. Swanson’s leadership with a gift that keeps on giving, and we have an opportunity to participate.

The Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi are a ministry dear to the Swansons. An offering is being collected in their honor that will go directly to renovating a campus home to serve youth in foster care. Currently, because of limited placement options in the state, youth are having to reside in hotel rooms. Some of these youth have been in 35 placements in the foster care system before coming to the Methodist Children’s Home! To renovate this campus home would create a Permanency Assessment Center (PAC) for youth to live with more permanency & stability.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of these children while also celebrating our bishop’s leadership, simply make your check out to the church and designate it, “Swanson’s Love Offering.” We will collect donations throughout the month of May.

The children’s home is an excellent example of what it means to call ourselves Methodist & Wesleyan. We invest in the lives of one another and work to bring justice and peace beyond the walls of the church buildings—by building into the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable.

Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and investing in a wonderful ministry.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

What’s Bringing Us Joy in April

Every month I like to take a moment and share what I’ve been reading, watching, or listening to that has brought me joy over the past month. The hope is that in sharing what has lifted my spirit, you will take time to ask God what has lifted your spirit as well.

Resurrection Letters: Prologue by Andrew Peterson (music): I am writing this newsletter piece during Holy Week and cannot stop listening to this 6-track EP from Andrew Peterson. It puts to music the last words of Jesus, a new arrangement of Psalm 22, and more appropriate words for the last week of Lent. Check it out wherever you listen to music.

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl (book): Science and nature writing have never been the genres I would choose first, but this collection of essays is about so much more than birds and plants. Renkl weaves stories of her family, her heritage, and her losses with what she’s observing in her yard. Each chapter is quite short, so it is easy to put it down and return to when you can. The writing is beautiful, and I can’t wait to read her newest book, Graceland At Last.

Michael Clayton (movie): Yes, this movie came out 15 years ago, but it is worth revisiting. It is one of those that I rewatch every few years because I always see something new in it. George Clooney plays Clayton, an attorney who is a ‘fixer’ at a huge law firm in New York City. He faces his biggest challenge when one of their best attorneys has a moral & ethical awakening to wrongs within a case, and Michael, in trying to control the attorney, begins to raise questions of his own. There’s some violence and language but a lot of wisdom in this one, too.

I’d love to hear what’s bring you joy this month and all year long!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

The Gospel According to CODA: Hearing Each Other

Last September, in my monthly round-up of what’s bringing me joy, I shared how much I loved the movie, CODA. The title is not only a musical term but also an acronym for Child of a Deaf Adult. It told the story about a high school student named Ruby who is the hearing child of deaf parents and sister to a deaf brother. We quickly discover, however, that Ruby’s great love is singing—even though no one in her family can hear her.

I was delighted when the film won Best Picture at last month’s Academy Awards. Even better, Troy Kotsur, who played the father, won Best Supporting Actor—the first deaf actor to do so. Before presenter Yuh-Jung Youn called his name as the winner, she signed his name with her hands so that he could “hear” his name read. Then, as Kotsur made his way to the stage, the audience stood, raised their hands, and waved them, which was sign language for “applause.” Everyone chuckled as Yuh-Jung Youn handed him the trophy, and then grabbed it back from him because he needed both hands free to sign. His translator beautifully interpreted Kotsur’s acceptance speech and even teared up as he spoke.

This was a powerful moment where people were making a loving effort to hear each other and to ensure that everyone could hear. It reflected the joy of the film, and how we are all trying to communicate well with those we love.

On Sunday we will enter the Easter season, which is all about celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It is also a 50-day period where we recall how much time he spent with those he loved. They listened to him, and he taught them how to better hear each other, too. Let us enter this season with the intention of truly hearing each other and listening for the voice of God’s Spirit together.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Making Room For Each Other

During the children’s moments last week, the kids arrived to the altar rail before I did. Normally I’m the first to sit down, and they sit around me. We had a large group that day, and they sat so closely together, where I normally sit. I asked them, “Is there room for me?”

Some of them giggled and scooted closer together, but some of them moved further apart and offered me space to sit down. It was an “aha!” moment for us all to realize how important it is to create and offer spaces for one another in the Church. Sometimes this means giving up our “favorite” seat in the pews (Remember that it’s not ‘my pew’ or ‘your pew’: it’s God’s!). Sometimes it means creating a new ministry or opportunity to engage more people in the life of the congregation. What matters most is that we are inviting one another, offering space for them to experience God’s love, and providing opportunities to grow closer to him.

There is no better time to ‘return’ to the Lord than Holy Week. Notice I didn’t say Easter. Just as during Advent we ‘prepare him room’ in our hearts leading up to Christmas. During Lent we heed the prophet, Joel’s, command to return to the Lord with our heart. Let’s start making space for one another leading up to Easter Sunday, and let’s begin filling spaces with our own presence, too. This is a perfect time to return in person for those who are able to do so.

Come feel the gentle brush of a palm branch on your shoulder as a child walks down the aisle saying, “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday.

Come hear the click of lights going out as your eyes adjust to the sudden darkness on Holy Thursday.

Come sit in the uncomfortable silence of a mostly empty sanctuary broken only by the words, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,” on Good Friday.

The dawn of Easter morning will be all the brighter, and we will be all the better for showing up and making room for each other!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

The Most Important Time of the Year

We have entered the second half of the Lenten season, and the holiest week of the year grows closer. Even though Holy Week does not begin until April 10, now is a good time for us to make preparations for how we will remember our Lord’s final week on earth. Every year it is tempting for us to rush to Easter’s glory, but we must, as we say in the Lord’s prayer, not be ‘led into temptation.’

I was thrilled with how many of you attended the Ash Wednesday worship service at the beginning of Lent, and I hope you will plan to mark the end of Lent in solemn worship, too. Here is our schedule for Holy Week and Easter Sunday with some explanation for each.

Sunday, April 10 at 11AM: Palm Sunday / Children’s Sabbath
*We will not have a service at 8:45 this Sunday.*
This year on Palm Sunday, we will only have one service as our children lead us in worship. Not only will they wave their palm branches; they will sing, play piano, read Scripture, and much more.

Thursday, April 14 at 6PM: Holy Thursday Service
We will share in Holy Communion and conclude this service with the stripping of the altar as we share a reading from Luke’s gospel about Jesus’ arrest in the garden.

Friday, April 15 at 12 noon: Good Friday Service
This will be a simple service of prayers, silence, and the reading of the Passion narrative. If you would be interested in serving as one of seven readers, please let me know.

Sunday, April 17 at 845 and 11AM: The Day of Resurrection
We will offer both services on Easter Sunday and look forward to celebrating this truth together: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 3
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8

What’s Bringing Us Joy in March

Every month I like to take a moment and share what I’ve been reading, watching, or listening to that has brought me joy over the past month. The hope is that in sharing what has lifted my spirit, you will take time to ask God what has lifted your spirit as well.

Bitter & Sweet: A Journey Into Easter by Tsh Oxenreider (devotional book): This is the devotional book I’ve been using for Lent, and I love it. Each daily reflection includes a passage of Scripture for meditation, a question for reflection, a short prayer that’s easy to memorize, and a song recommendation. On Sundays there is an art recommendation as well. And as a bonus, the book’s cover is gorgeous!

Seven by Brooke Ligertwood (music) : Ligertwood is best-known for songs she wrote with Hillsong Australia, where she also has led worship for years. This is her first live solo album, and the songs are based on the book of Revelation. Listening to the songs in order with lyrics in front of you does feel like a journey through Revelation that is powerful. This is the book we most need to be studying now, and music like this makes it even richer!

The Courier (movie): Don’t you love stumbling upon a film that is based on a true story in history that you’ve never hear before? I watched The Courier right after Russia invaded Ukraine mostly because it is set during the Cold War. It is the story of two men who took great risks to ensure the safety of others during the Cuban Missile Crisis. One of them lives in the former Soviet Union, the other in Great Britain. I am so thankful for what I learned from this film.

I’d love to hear what’s bring you joy this month and all year long!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Lectionary Texts for Mar. 27, 2022:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Updates On The United Methodist General Conference

Some of you may have heard the news that the General Conference of The United Methodist Church has been postponed again until 2024. I thought this would be an opportune time to share some basic information about this news and refresh our memories on our denomination’s structure.

General Conference meets every four years and is made up of clergy and laity in UM congregations around the world. Every Annual Conference elects delegates to attend General Conference as their representatives. Our Annual Conference is made up of the churches in the state of Mississippi, and we meet annually. This year we’ll meet in July in Tupelo. Ralph Weems will serve this year as our member to Annual Conference, and I’ll serve as your clergy member.

General Conference was supposed to meet in 2020 but was postponed to this year because of the pandemic. We recently learned it would be postponed again until 2024. Tensions have continued to simmer in our denomination around convictions on human sexuality. There is a piece of legislation that the General Conference was to consider if they had met this year that would formally create a new, more conservative denomination known as the Global Methodist Church. Leaders of the Global Methodist Church have announced that they are planning to launch the new denomination on May 1, even though General Conference has not met.

So, what does this mean for us as a United Methodist congregation? Quite simply, no actions or decisions are needed from us right now. We will keep doing the work God has called us to do right here. We’ll remain informed on what develops, and when the time is right will offer some informational sessions. We will pray for our denomination and the larger body of Christ, and we give thanks for all you bring to his body here in West Point and throughout the world.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

How Do We Pray with Ukraine?

When national or international tragedy strikes, we often have two responses when that tragedy feels far away and unrelated to us. One is that we “doom-scroll,” which means we become consumed by the news, the images on our screens, and the tweets and posts filling our timeline. The other is the opposite, where with a sense of helplessness we try to escape by not paying attention at all.

Our call as followers of Jesus Christ is to find a place of balance between those two responses. We are called both to weep with those who suffer and to keep ourselves grounded in hope and not despair. As we watch the pain of war unfold in Ukraine, we ask ourselves, “what can I do that will make a difference? And where do I start?” Whether you fall into the camp of being overwhelmed or wanting to escape or are somewhere in the middle, I wanted to offer a few suggestions of how to pray. I would love to hear how you are praying for the Church in Ukraine and Russia as well.

1. Visit www.everymomentholy.com/liturgies where a beautiful liturgy is available for “grieving a national tragedy.” This can be used responsively in your family or offered as a singular prayer.

2. When you read or watch a news story about the war, as soon as that segment is, press the “pause” button and offer a prayer for those you just saw on the screen or in the story.

3. An employee of Compassion International who immigrated to the US from Ukraine at the age of nine shared this powerful idea. At 5 p.m. Ukraine time, a curfew begins where everyone has to go into the shelters. Children especially are very scared at this time everyday when they must go into hiding. Set an alarm on your phone for 9AM our time (Ukraine is eight hours ahead of us, so this would be 5PM their time), and offer a prayer for the children.

4. Pray Psalm 91 (our text for this past Sunday) for the Church in Ukraine and Russia daily.

Let us not live in fear but pray in hope. Let us not isolate ourselves from chaos but engage with those who suffer with our prayers. Let us be the body of Christ.

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

What Brought Us Joy in February

Every month I like to take a moment and share what I’ve been reading, watching, or listening to that has brought me joy over the past month. The hope is that in sharing what has lifted my spirit, you will take time to ask God what has lifted your spirit as well.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (movie): All that many of us know about the late Tammy Faye Bakker was what we saw on television, but there is always more to a person than what the screen can show. This is especially true now that we carry screens in our pockets, complete with social media, all the time. Jessica Chastain gives a powerful performance that helps us to see that, though Tammy Faye made mistakes, she was a woman with a call and a love for God and people. I loved learning more about her.

When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash (book) : I have loved Wiley Cash’s work ever since he released his bestselling debut, A Land More Kind Than Home. His latest novel is set in a small, coastal Carolina community with a big mystery and even greater tensions in the early 1980s. It’s a heavy read with subject matter that made me tear up sometimes, and the ending made me gasp with surprise. But isn’t that evidence of good writing, too?

The Gilded Age (TV): Raise your hand if you loved Downton Abbey? Now imagine that Downton moved to New York City in the decade following the Civil War. I am loving the characters, the pacing, the dynamics, and there is no better examination of greed and tradition on television right now than this. The show does air on HBO, as opposed to public broadcasting, so some episodes are for more mature audiences.

I’d love to hear what’s bring you joy this month and all year long!

all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 6, 2022
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13

Giving Up Anxiety for Lent: A Lenten Worship Series

Next week, we enter the Lenten season, which begins with the Ash Wednesday service on March 2. Every year it seems that I move through the same two routines around this time:

I am eager for Lent to begin and enjoy planning for public worship and personal disciplines.
I am so surprised with how quickly Lent seems to arrive!

Isn’t time so funny in the way it seems to fly one day and drag another? Or perhaps the better question is: aren’t we funny creatures the way we measure time?

How we steward God’s gift of time during Lent can be a tremendous experience of spiritual growth. For centuries, we followers of Jesus hear an invitation to fast from something so that we might learn on what we need to be feasting instead: the riches of his grace! This past Sunday we sang a verse in our hymn of praise that indeed declared, “Feasting on the riches of his grace, resting ‘neath his sheltering wing…”

One of the greatest enemies we battle in our quest to feast & to rest with Him is anxiety. What if we decided to fast from anxiety and worry during Lent this year? I see some of you scoffing and chuckling and rolling your eyes as you read that last statement! You likely wonder, “How am I supposed to give up anxiety?!”

We all need help in our fasts. Our time in worship and meditation in the Word of God will help us as a congregation to do exactly that. I encourage you to search your own heart to see if God might lead you to give up something personally as well. After all, holiness is both personal & social. So let us walk into this Lenten season aware of our need and awake to his grace.

all good things to each of you
Dr Darian

Lectionary Texts for Transfiguration Sunday (February 27, 2022)
Exodus 34: 29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36