Means of Grace

In this episode, Caroline and Brian check in with Rev. Louis Timberlake for an update on the conference Innovation initiative that began at Annual Conference last year.

Learn more at https://www.wnccumc.org/innovation. Contact Louis at [email protected].

Complete a few questions here to be included in the number of innovative ministries in WNCC. https://wnc-reg.brtapp.com/WNCCInnovatorsInformationSurvey

The Rural Church has a vital role to play during this current pandemic. The nature of the rural church is built around relationships – relationships with church members, but also the community. Rural Churches have a unique opportunity to provide resources, connections, and hope during these stressful times. This episode of the Means of Grace podcast features a conversation three leaders who have experience and expertise in leading and understanding churches in rural areas. They discuss the role of the church in a rural community and how it can build the kingdom through these connections.

Guests:

- Rev. Allen Stanton, a clergy member of the WNC conference and the executive director of the Turner Center at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee.

- Rev. Santosh Niroula, the pastor of Fountain Hill and Mount Moriah United Methodist Churches in the Uwharrie District of WNC

- Rev. Kristen Richardson-Frick, a clergy member of the SC conference and the Associate Director of the Rural Church Division at The Duke Endowment

The Turner Center has launched a new series, "Leading During COVID19." Each episode features an interview with experts, thinking with churches on leading during challenging times: https://www.cultivaterural.com/turner-center-resources

Cullowhee United Methodist Church worship during the pandemic: https://www.cullowheeumc.org/multimedia/

Christian Century article, "The Gifts of Small Church During a Pandemic," by Kara Root: https://www.christiancentury.org/blog-post/guest-post/gifts-small-church-during-pandemic

Resources from the North Carolina Council of Churches: https://www.ncchurches.org/covid-19-resources/

Two articles by Allen Stanton:

• https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/10178/how-the-rural-church-can-help-during-covid-19
• https://medium.com/@atstanton/worshiping-apart-rural-churches-in-covid-19-e32b0adb1018

Genesis 1: 26 - Then God said, "Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth."

In this episode of The Means of Grace Podcast, Kim and Jesse talk with three Western North Carolina Conference Earth Keepers about their passion for the stewardship of God's creation. Jonathan Brake, pastor of Woodmont UMC in Reidsville; Bill Garrard, retired UM clergy, and Kim Richmond; a member at Maple Springs UMC in Winston-Salem, share with us their journeys in which they have embraced the work of creation care. They share ideas for individuals, families, churches, and communities through which we can "care" for the resources in which God has entrusted us.

United Methodist Social Principles: https://www.cokesbury.com/Social-Principles-of-The-United-Methodist-Church-2017-2020-1

United Methodist Creation Justice: https://umcreationjustice.org/What United Methodists Believe about Creation Care: https://www.umc.org/en/what-we-believe/umc-topics/social-issues/creation-care

The General Board of Church and Society offers resources about clean water, climate justice, food justice, sustainability and more: https://www.umcjustice.org/what-we-care-about/environmental-justice

Earth Keepers: https://www.umcmission.org/learn-about-us/events/earthkeepers

United Methodist Women resources: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/sustainability

Ideas for a local church: https://www.wnccumc.org/longstanding-commitment-to-the-environment-bears-great-fruit-for-centenary-umc

Faith-Based Organizations related to the care of creationInterfaith Power and Light: www.Interfaithpowerandlight.org

Creation Care Alliance of WNC: www.creationcarealliance.orgBlessedEarth:www.blessedearth.org

In the Passions of Jesus study, we look at the interconnectedness of Christ's passion for us, Christ's passion for others, and our passion reflected back, for Christ and for others. Rev. Gloria Hughes will lead six weeks of video conversations to accompany a digital study guide. Do the video conversations leave you wanting more? Each week, throughout Lent, Means of Grace will feature the 15- to 30-minute conversations in full.

Dr. Melanie Dobson leads a practice of Ignatian Examen. This prayer was developed by Ignatius of Loyola for his fellow monks, the Society of Friends, in the mid-1500s. Ignatius thought that by the self-examination of times of desolation and consolation in a person's life, they could see more clearly the presence of God at work. This particular practice is adapted from Daniel Wolpert in his book, Creating a Life with God.

Melanie is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and an associate professor of Methodist Studies at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. She is also a registered yoga teacher, teaching yoga at churches, in retreat settings, and for cancer survivors. She enjoys hiking, cycling, cooking, and being outdoors. She is a single mom to one son, Elijah, who is in 5th grade.

Dr. Melanie Dobson leads a guided practice of Lectio Divina. This four-fold reading of scripture and prayer was developed by Christian monks and practiced for centuries. It has been reclaimed by Catholics and Protestants alike in the late 20th/early 21st century. This practice was adapted from Norvene Vest in her book, Gathered in the Word.

Melanie is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and an associate professor of Methodist Studies at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. She is also a registered yoga teacher, teaching yoga at churches, in retreat settings, and for cancer survivors. She enjoys hiking, cycling, cooking, and being outdoors. She is a single mom to one son, Elijah, who is in 5th grade.

Dr. Melanie Dobson leads a guided practice of the Prayer of the Heart. This prayer is inspired by the contemplative prayer of the desert mothers and fathers. In Greek, it was called heschyia and focuses on the heart as more than just an organ, but rather as the seat of God's dwelling place within us. Modern mystics such as Teilhard de Chardin and Cynthia Bourgeault have reclaimed the importance of heart-centered prayer.

Melanie is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and an associate professor of Methodist Studies at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. She is also a registered yoga teacher, teaching yoga at churches, in retreat settings, and for cancer survivors. She enjoys hiking, cycling, cooking, and being outdoors. She is a single mom to one son, Elijah, who is in 5th grade.

Rev. Ashley Pickerel Thomas leads a Heart Math stress reduction mediation on Special Care Focus: Coronavirus (Technique for Reducing and Overcoming Fear). For this meditation, the care focus is replacing fear with Intelligent concern. The tool is intentionally simple but effective. For more, visit https://www.heartmath.com/blog/health-and-wellness/special-care-focus-coronavirus-technique-for-reducing-and-overcoming-fear/

Ashley Thomas, ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference. Currently serving in two ministry capacities:

The first is as a clergy coach with Passion In Partnership. In this role she has the opportunity to invest and work with clergy across several different conferences, largely in the Southeastern Jurisdiction, helping to cultivate life-long fruitful ministry and resilient leaders.

https://pipministries.org

Additionally, she serves as the Missioner for School of the Spirit, a contemplative practice-based spiritual formation experience for clergy and lay ministry professionals. In this role she is a storyteller and advocate of the transformative nature of this program and is currently developing second-mile mentoring for alumni, helping contemplative spiritual formation practices take root in the local church.

https://www.schoolofthespirit.com

In her favorite moments, you will find her either on a trip to some place new or in her flower garden at home, both of which she enjoys with her favorite person, her husband, A.J.

In this meditation, Rev. Ashley Pickerel Thomas leads the Welcoming Prayer, created by Mary Mrozowski. According to Contemplative Outreach, the Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God's presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day. Read the full prayer here:

https://thechapelofthecross.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/140228-with-DFsermonWelcoming-Prayer.pdf

Ashley Thomas is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference, currently serving in two ministry capacities:

The first is as a clergy coach with Passion In Partnership. In this role she has the opportunity to invest and work with clergy across several different conferences, largely in the Southeastern Jurisdiction, helping to cultivate life-long fruitful ministry and resilient leaders.

https://pipministries.org

Additionally, she serves as the Missioner for School of the Spirit, a contemplative practice-based spiritual formation experience for clergy and lay ministry professionals. In this role she is a storyteller and advocate of the transformative nature of this program and is currently developing second-mile mentoring for alumni, helping contemplative spiritual formation practices take root in the local church.

https://www.schoolofthespirit.com

In her favorite moments, you will find her either on a trip to some place new or in her flower garden at home, both of which she enjoys with her favorite person, her husband, A.J.

Dr. Melanie Dobson leads two prayers for children. First, Morning Prayer for Children: The Balloon Breath. This breath prayer is a wonderful way to calm and center in the morning.

Next, Night Prayer for Children: Ignatian Examen. This prayer was developed by Ignatius of Loyola for his fellow monks, the Society of Friends, in the mid-1500s. It is a practice of seeing God in the good and the bad of the day. Melanie is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and an associate professor of Methodist Studies at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. She is also a registered yoga teacher, teaching yoga at churches, in retreat settings, and for cancer survivors. She enjoys hiking, cycling, cooking, and being outdoors. She is a single mom to one son, Elijah, who is in 5th grade.