An Ecumenical Ministry in the Parish of St Patrick's Catholic Church In San Diego USA

米国サンディエゴの聖パトリックカトリック教会教区におけるエキュメニカル宣教

Monday, April 21, 2014

Pastorgraphs: “Every Good Friday”



E-Vangel Newsletter
April 21, 2014

Pastorgraphs: “Every Good Friday”

We were honored and blessed to have our District Superintendent, the Rev. John Farley (far right), back with us Easter Sunday to participate in the energetic multi-ethnic worship of Exodus Parish. David Stump (Christ Chapel lay pastor, far left) delivered a stimulating Easter sermon. Jean Elise Durandisse (Haitian Methodist lay pastor, left center), and the Haitian choir blessed us with their blend of Caribbean and gospel music. The Rev. Dr. Donald Owens (Exodus Church, center right), planned the program and introduced the Voices of Exodus who filled our worship with inspirational gospel music.

The meeting with our Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the California-Pacific Annual Conference last Wednesday went wonderfully well. I shared an email with most of you Thursday with her kind and timely words reflecting on that meeting. The Cal-Pac Cabinet (made up of the District Superintendents, Conference Lay Leaders and Bishop) will be meeting Thursday and Friday of this week and will make a determination on proceeding with a Constituting Conference for Exodus Parish. What that means if approved, Exodus Parish (four Methodist-related ethnic congregations who worship at Christ Ministry Center) will become officially chartered as a new United Methodist parish (or church). The Bishop noted that old Christ Church died, but from that funeral came the resurrection of a new, stronger congregation. Exodus Parish is a symbol for Easter! Thank you in advance for your prayers that God’s Will be done in this important matter.

Friday of Holy Week is called Good Friday. Every Friday is a day the hungry in our neighborhood may come to Christ Ministry Center for a banana box full of groceries (a ministry conducted by the Rev. Bob and Linda DiGiorgio and their Crossroads Christian Ministries International). On occasion we have had other groups come in on Fridays to offer various services ranging from health care insurance assistance to free tax preparation.

The thought occurred to me that EVERY FRIDAY could be a “community open house” at Christ Ministry Center where various organizations could set up booths or tables to help in a wide range of services. For instance, this Friday, I will be meeting with a neighborhood health clinic that wants to offer FREE health screening services for women’s health issues for those who cannot otherwise afford to see a doctor! How amazing will that be?

My friend, the Rev. Ken Nielsen of the Mid-City Minister’s Prayer Group, suggested we call it “EVERY GOOD FRIDAY”. I like that. It would not mean every service would be offered every Friday, for some like the neighborhood health clinic might want to come one Friday a month. Obviously free tax preparation help is a seasonal thing. But every Friday, we will continue to distribute food along with spiritual counseling, prayers for the sick, and a host of other ministries and services.

Stay tuned, more to follow. There are some exciting things going on at Christ Ministry Center.

Devotedly yours, Bill Jenkins

From the Quote Garden:
“Until we embrace our mutual brokenness, our work with low-income people is likely to do more harm than good. I sometimes unintentionally reduce poor people to objects that I use to fulfill my own need to accomplish something. I am not okay, and you are not okay. But Jesus can fix us both.”
Steve Corbett, When Helping Hurts:
How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself

Christ United Methodist Ministry Center
“Christ in the Heart of San Diego”
3295 Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205

Home of
Exodus Cooperative Parish
Exodus Church - Christ Chapel - Haitian Methodist - Mision Metodista

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