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Here are some things on my heart that I’d like to share as I venture into the summer months.

 

1.    I have been deeply moved in recent days by the ministry of “Imagine No Malaria.” In fact, Tara and I have been so utterly convicted of the urgency of this ministry that we have prayerfully decided to become part of the “Impact 500 Society” by committing $83 dollars a month over the next five years to “Imagine No Malaria.” In doing so, Tara and I will become instruments through which God saves 500 lives.

 

I do not share this information with you for the purpose of patting myself on the back for my good work (Believe me, the evidence of my own shallowness and selfishness is ever before me.) Nor do I share this information for the purpose of “towing the party line” concerning another denominational effort. Rather, I share this information in order to help you to understand that you have a district superintendent who has been brought to his knees and completely undone by the realization that millions of our African sisters and brothers are suffering with a disease that is perfectly preventable and treatable. 

 

Will you join me in the effort? Will you prayerfully consider becoming a part of the “Impact 100 Society” by committing to give $28 dollars a month over the next five years to the ministry of “Imagine No Malaria” (thereby saving 100 African lives)? My heart compels me to ask this of you. I pray that your heart compels you to respond.

 

Help the people you serve to understand the ministry of “Imagine No Malaria.” Help them to understand how they can become a part of the effort to save lives for the cause of Jesus Christ. Help them to find their way into what I believe is some of the most significant and Christ-honoring work that our church is doing in these challenging times. Please visit the ministry’s website (imaginenomalaria.org) for information and resources.

 

2.    In the aftermath of an appointment season that brought more than its share of complexities, I find myself praying fervently for families and churches in transition. Particularly present in my prayerful heart are the following pastors who will either be leaving our district, coming to our district, or moving to another church on the district: David Evans, Mark Stewart, Judy Winston-Thomas, Jeff Conn, Ken Miller, Nancy Shute, Keith Simmons, Rico Vespa, B.T. Gilligan, Bev Gross, Nancy Zahn, Larry Corner, Rich Updegraff, Pat and Wayne Cleary, Bruce Northey, Diane Gobbel, and Terry Shaughnessy. 

 

I’ve also been praying regularly for Lota Jones as she prepares to enter the retired relationship.

 

And what more can I say about Jan Moody Owen?! It is difficult for me to imagine a Jan-less Washington District Office. For thirteen years, Jan has blessed this district with her administrative prowess, her organizational acumen, and her wonderfully engaging personality. I am praying for Jan as she, Tori, and Dan make ready for a full-time life in Erie. I am also praying for Collette Hill as she prepares to begin her work as the new Washington District Administrative Assistant.

 

During these days of important transition, please join me in praying for these pastors, church workers, their families, and the churches they serve.

 

3.    What are you reading these days? Here is a portion of my intended reading list for the summer months:

-“Hannah’s Child: A Theological Memoir” (by Stanley Hauerwas)

-“Christ the Key” (by Kathryn Tanner)

-“Countdown to Sunday: A Daily Guide for Those Who Dare to Preach”

                        (by Christ Erdman)

-“Just War as Christian Discipleship: Recentering the Tradition in the

                       Church Rather than the State” (by Daniel Bell)

-“Against the Tide: Love in a Time of Petty Dreams and Persisting

                        Enmities” (by Miroslav Volf)

-“Journey to the Common Good” (by Walter Brueggemann)

-“Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society” (by Marva Dawn)      

4.    After twenty-one years of ministry, the discipline of preaching is still one of my primary passions and one that I believe remains somewhere very close to the heart of local church ministry. For this reason, I have scheduled a dialogical seminar entitled “THE EVOCATIVE WORD: Preaching That Inspires and Calls Forth.” This seminar, led by yours truly, will be held at First United Methodist Church in Washington on Saturday, August 21^st, from 9:00 until Noon. It is free of charge and open to all clergy and laity who are interested in deepening their skills in the discipline of preaching. I hope that you will plan on joining me as we grow together in our proclamation of the Word. Please see additional information concerning this event elsewhere in this newsletter.

 

5.    Finally, as I look toward the completion of my second year of the superintendency  

(remember that I began this work on January 1 of 2009), I find myself inwardly occupied by a deep and abiding sense of gratitude for the privilege and honor of sharing life and ministry with the clergy and laity of the Washington District. You inspire me regularly with your faithfulness, your integrity, your creativity, and your continued devotion to Jesus Christ and his Way. I am praying for you, even as I type these words.

 

Thanks for doing what you do. Even more, thanks for being who you are.

 

Have a blessed summer.

Eric Park