Do you see what God sees?

Over the weekend we asked ourselves the questions, “Do I have a vision for my life?  Can I see what God sees?”  It’s not always easy to see what God sees.  God doesn’t post God’s visions on You Tube or mail us a DVD.  Visions can’t be conjured up and we can’t manipulate God into giving us a vision.  We have to pray and actively wait for God’s vision for our future.  And so that’s what I am doing this week, praying and actively waiting for God’s vision for my life and the life of Shiloh.  But sometimes in order to pray, listen and actively wait, I have to change locations.  I’m writing this blog in the mountain community of Candler, just outside of Asheville, North Carolina.  It may sound odd but when I am in the mountains, especially in the woods I feel closer to God.  One of the active prayers that I am praying is “Lord, break my heart for the things that break yours.”  You may remember this prayer from Bob Pierce, founder of the World Vision Organization.  We prayed this prayer when we read Richard Stearn’s book Hole in Our Gospel.  It’s a visionary prayer that reminds us that God is the Lord of all-the whole earth-the entire globe.  There are things that are happening in our communities, city, nation, and world that break God’s heart-and that should break our hearts as well.  This is not a plea to God to make us weepy all the time.  No!  This is a prayer that asks God to change our vision-open our eyes-and to focus on the purpose and plan God has for our lives.  

We want to stay focused on the vision that God has placed on Shiloh to claim our community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ!   Next week we will be gathering for our annual Kingdom Investor’s Meeting: Sunday, October 6 after 11am worship at the Delhi Campus. This meeting is a great opportunity for us to ask ourselves the question, “Do we see what God sees?  Are we living out God’s vision?”  We need your input, your voice matters, and we ask that you participate in shaping the future vision of Shiloh United Methodist Church by attending this meeting.  

God’s vision isn’t just planted in the heart of one person, it’s ignited in the hearts of many.  So come let’s see what God is doing together!

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel 

What's Happening in Price Hill?

It was only a year ago that the boarded-up church that sat on the corner of Elberon and Phillips Avenue become a campus of Shiloh United Methodist Church.  We are one church in two locations.  But even though we are one church, there are times when people wonder, “What is happening at Price Hill?”  We are claiming our community and city through the incredible things that are happening at Price Hill.  It all begins with worship. Numerous people gather both on Wednesday Nights for Meal, Message and Music at 6pm and Sunday Worship Celebration at 11am to praise God and be fueled for the week.  The first annual Harvest Festival was held last Sunday after church-not only did 70 people gather for worship, but 150 people participated in the family festivities and fun!  Just last month the staff gathered at Price Hill for a prayer walk inside church and outside into the community.  As we viewed the city from Mt. Echo Park and prayed in strategic places, we realized God’s incredible vision for rebuilding, restoring, and renewing this city!  

In terms of service- the second Saturday of every month, church folks are gathering to collect trash in the neighborhood; but picking up trash is not just about taking pride in the neighborhood. It’s also about meeting our neighbors.  One of the greatest needs in the Price Hill community is education.   Dorian, the members of the Price Hill core team, and our Preschool Director, Aimee McBride, are working to start a Preschool and Day Care Program in Price Hill.  We are also looking into GED programs for adults.  BLOC ministries continues to offer an after school program and we are frequently being approached by the community and even other churches to form partnerships to claim the community for Jesus Christ!  

Some of the up-and-coming events at Price Hill include Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, October 30, at 6pm  and a Thanksgiving Holiday meal on Sunday, November 24.  

God is on the move in Price Hill, and as the ministry grows so does the need.  We are always in need of people to serve in ministry at Price Hill, so if you have felt the Holy Spirit calling you to serve in ministry at Price Hill please don’t hesitate to contact me or Pastor Dorian, dorian@shilohumc.com.       

Blessings 

Pastor Rachel 

Fall Kick-Off

I love this time of year!  Kids are back to school, the college football season has started, and every time I feel the hot dry air of September I am reminded of cross country races!   There is just something almost spiritual about the fall in the Billups’ household.  Of course when a cross country runner marries a football player, the fall is bound to have significance in our lives.  But there is more than one kick-off we can anticipate in the fall.  Beyond our love for football, the fall is a time to kick-off ministry here at Shiloh.  There are all kinds of ministries being kicked off this week.  

Saturday Night Worship- This Saturday Night, September 14, following the Saturday Night Service  (5:30pm), we will be having a cookout!  It’s a great opportunity to get a free meal and connect with one another!  
Price Hill Kick-Off- Sunday following the 11am service at Price Hill there will be a Harvest Celebration.  Come to the Price Hill campus and check it out!  

Parent Orientation- Sunday, September 15, at 5pm, our Student and Children’s Ministry is hosting a free dinner orientation for parents who have students in 3rd through 12th grade.  

SURGE/DRIVE Youth Group- Grades 6th-12th will gather September 15 from 6-7:30pm for fun, study, and fellowship.

SEEKERS Kick-Off also begins September 15 at 6-7:30pm and includes students 3rd-5th grade.  

Mid-Week Bible Study is back on Thursday, September 19 at 7pm in the Sanctuary.  If you want to know more about the Bible, come and check out Mid-week.  

So whether you’re a student or parent, new to Shiloh or been here a while, I encourage you to kick the fall off right and participate in these fall discipleship opportunities!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel 

What Resolution?

It’s been a while since January!  Although I find myself dreaming of January  temperatures, it’s hard to remember all of the things that I resolved to do on January 1, 2013: get in better shape, drink 8 glasses of water a day, read 25 books, and the list goes on and on.  Perhaps one of the most challenging items on my list was something that we resolved to do together-read the Bible in a Year!  Now many of us are still reading, others have found themselves falling behind, and others have given up all together.  But just like moving toward improved health, it’s never to late to start!  Even if you haven’t been reading your Bible, even if you are REALLY behind, I want to challenge you to begin again.  Don’t feel like you have to start over, just begin were you are.  Right now we are reading in the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is one of the major prophets in the Old Testament and has some really tough stuff that he has to say to God’s people.  It’s interesting!  Soon we will start Mid-Week Bible Study- Thursday, September 19 at 7pm.   We will gather in the sanctuary to learn more about Jeremiah and many other Old Testament Prophets, and then on to the New Testament!  If you haven’t been to Mid-Week you should check it out.  It’s a great way to learn more about the Bible: 40 minutes of teaching and 15 minutes of questions and answers.  Life groups will be begin again and our Disciple I Bible study will be finishing up in October and another Disciple Bible Study will be offered in January 2014.   So pick up your Bible, grab a Bible Reading Plan (there are copies in the Gathering Space or in the Church Office), and recommit to that New Year’s Resolution that may seem like a distant memory.  The Year’s not over!  It’s not to late to have some victory!  Church, reading and reflecting on God’s word has the power to change our lives!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel   

Back to School

Many of us remember the anxiety we felt as we anticipated that first day of school.  From butterflies in the stomach to pure dread, you could say that the years brought forth a mixture of emotions.  What if my friends weren’t in my class?  What if I couldn’t handle this semesters schedule?  What if I forgot to bring my lunch?  These questions and many more filled our minds.  But it seems there are a new set of questions-some involving security, some involving curriculum, and even some the future of education in the U.S.   Perhaps that’s a parent’s perspective.  But whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or a concerned citizen, we realize that education is important!  Education shapes our perspective, our worldview, and it gives us a hope for future.  With the return of school I can’t help but think about the future.  The future that teachers, administrators, school board members, mentors, parents, and leaders are investing in--our kids!  It’s also our job as the church to invest in these future generations.  One of the ways that we have committed to investing in our kids is to pray for them.  From prayer during Vacation Bible School to the start of the school year, we want to pray for our kids!   So, on weekend of September 7th & 8th we will be praying over our kids and this 2013-2014 school year.  It’s the blessing of the backpacks.  We want to encourage your kids to bring their backpacks to one of our weekend services: Saturday Night at 5:30pm, Sunday at 9:30am or 11:00am.  Yes, we will bless the backpacks, but more than just blessing the backpacks, we will be praying over our kids.  Prayers for their safety, prayers for focus, and prayers for an incredible school year.  This is a great way to get this school year started!  So come to worship on the weekend of September 7th & 8th and invest in future generations!  

Blessings 

Pastor Rachel 

The Bigger Picture

Sometimes it’s easy to get so focused on our own lives, our own stuff, and even our own drama that we miss the bigger picture.  We are part of something larger than ourselves.  The same kind of self-focus is true for the church.  It’s easy to get so wrapped up in what God is doing in a single location and forget God’s work throughout our community, city, nation, and world.  You may not realize it, but as a United Methodist Church we are part of a larger network of churches (over 8 million people) throughout the world!  United Methodism is our brand, it’s the branch of the movement of Jesus Christ that we are a part of, and although there is a lot of diversity throughout the world when it comes to Methodism, it’s part of our bigger picture.  

Since Methodism shapes who we are, it’s important to know a few things about this network of churches.  For example, Did you know we are part of The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church?  Geographically The West Ohio Conference makes up 58 of the 88 counties in Ohio; it includes Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, and Marietta, and incorporates nearly 1100 churches!  Within the West Ohio Conference there are 8 districts and we are a part of the Ohio River Valley District.   United Methodist churches in Hamilton, Warren, Clinton, Clermont, and Butler Counties come together to form the Ohio River Valley District.  We certainly are not alone in claiming our community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ!  

Since we are connected, it’s important to name and see this part of our bigger picture.  How do we see it?  Next weekend we will have the honor of meeting our new Assistant District Superintendent, Reverend Doug Johns. Rev. Johns will be preaching on Saturday Night, August 24th at 5:30pm and Sunday, August 25th at 9:30am & 11:00am.  It’s a great opportunity for us to welcome Rev. Johns and to catch a glimpse of our bigger picture! 

We are United Methodists.  It’s our brand, our movement, and our part of the larger body of Christ.  Church, that’s the whole picture- all of us together no matter what church we come from- we are all part of the body of Jesus Christ!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel 

   

We Are Family

We Are Family

In 1979 Sister Sledge released the hit dance song, “We are Family.”  This catchy tune is a reminder that family is more than just biology, it’s more than the people that share your DNA, family is a reality that crosses social, economic, and political structures.  Family is such a strong word that drums within us emotional responses.  Sometimes when we think of family our hearts are flooded with joy-filled memories and then there are moments where the term family tears open a wound.  Family is complicated, but one of the greatest realities of the word “family” is a spiritual one.  From the Old Testament to the New, we Christians embrace our identity as members of the family of God.  We are family.  Perhaps one of the most profound examples of being family is the early church.  As people started following Jesus a new family reality began to emerge.  A reality where widows were taken care of, children that were abandoned adopted in, and the poor and powerless embraced.  No longer were religious people concerned with DNA and biology, now they embraced a family marked by the waters of baptism.  Baptism, not biology became the marker of what it meant to be part of the family of God.

This week as I have embraced the newest member of the Billups’ family, I am reminded of just how awesome and powerful it is to be part of the family of God.  Throughout this week, not only have I received hundreds of messages through cards, Facebook, email, and text, but also I have felt the prayers of my family.  It is incredible to be a part of the family of God right here at Shiloh Church!  Jon and I are grateful for your love and support during this time of new life in our lives!  And I am also incredibly grateful for the leadership of Shiloh Church, both our staff and also our lay leaders.  Everyday I am reminded of the gifts and passion of Pastor Brent, Pastor Danny, and Pastor Dorian and how they are giving their all to gift me with this time away.  As family I want you to know that I am praying for you daily and I ask you to pray for me, Jon, Adeline, Christopher, and Baby David.  We will need all the prayers you can send our way.  

Shiloh, we are family!  I thank God that I have such an incredible family at Shiloh Church!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel