Dear Keller UMC Family,
When I (Jason) was younger, I enjoyed Mel Brooks movies. They were always silly and at times a bit uncouth, but Mel Brooks always makes me laugh. He made a movie that spoofed Star Wars and in that movie, there is a character called Lord Helmet. Lord Helmet wears a giant helmet and is a comedic spoof of Darth Vader - classic Mel Brooks. There is a bit running in the movie where Lord Helmet gives an order to his number two, Colonel Sandurz, to which Sandurz tells a worker to “prepare” to do the order. After a while all this “preparing” language gets under Lord Helmet’s skin and he lashes out at Sandurz. The script reads like this (or you can watch the 20 second clip here):
SANDURZ: I've sent the troops on up to Vector 78, sir.
HELMET: Good. Let's get moving.
SANDURZ: Yes, sir. Driver, prepare to move out.
HELMET: What are you preparing? You're always preparing. Just go!
SANDURZ: Just go.
DRIVER: Yes, sir.
SANDURZ: Sir, shouldn't you sit down?
The cruiser takes off, and HELMET is thrown in his seat.
So many times I feel like Lord Helmet. I just want to go! The UMC is a denomination that places a premium on Jesus’ words in Matthew 28: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” It has been said that the UMC is a “Church of Go”. And there is a lot of truth in this. However, in our spiritual journeys the appropriate mode is not always “go”.
Instead, just as we must inhale to exhale, in our spiritual lives there is a time to prepare, and a time to go. KUMC just finished Christmas - a major “go” time. We now find ourselves in a time of preparing. Much of the ministry currently happening at KUMC is the ministry of preparation. Standing leadership teams are beginning to meet for the first time this year, with new committee members. Our worship staff is preparing for Lent and Easter. Plans are being finalized for 7th grade Confirmation class. The Resource Center is preparing for post Christmas follow up. Children’s ministry is preparing for VBS (yes, VBS!) and church administration is preparing year end reports and finalizing the budget for 2021.
Preparing in the church looks different from other times we prepare in daily life. In the church we have another agent that helps us all prepare, but we do not get to schedule when that agent will act or show up. We do not get to tell this agent (the Holy Spirit) what to do. Rather, we ask the Holy Spirit what should be done. Preparing in the church requires patience and stillness; it requires time and flexibility. It requires that we set aside preconceived expectations and open ourselves up to God’s desires and will.
Many of us find all the preparing taxing and annoying, because we just want to go! However, if I have learned anything from Lord Helmet, if we do not prepare we will be thrown out of our seats!
Worship this Sunday, January 17
Pastor Lauren Christenberry will be bringing the message this weekend in worship as we (Jason and Estee) take a Sunday off for vacation. We are grateful for Lauren and all the church staff who allow us to take a little time away. Pastor Lauren and worship leaders will continue to move us deeper in the series “New Mercies” as we seek new understanding about a familiar Scripture passage. Worship with us online via Livestream or Facebook, or make a reservation to join us in-person.
May the peace of Christ be with you friends, this day and all the days to come.
