North Texas Conference News

St. Luke begins moving forward again as Holmes returns to pulpit

By SHERON C. PATTERSON

Editor

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, left, welcomed Zan Holmes.

Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes returned to the pulpit of St. Luke "Community" UMC on Feb. 19 in his new role as interim pastor.

Dr. Holmes, pastor emeritus of St. Luke, retired from this church 10 years ago after serving as senior pastor for 28 years.

Now he is back to help heal and lead until a permanent pastor is appointed.

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, episcopal leader of the North Texas Annual Conference, is working with the congregation's leaders on appointing a new pastor this spring with an effective start date at Annual Conference. St. Luke's previous pastor, the Rev. Tyrone Gordon, resigned and surrendered his credentials Feb. 15 in the wake of a sexual misconduct lawsuit.

With a packed sanctuary that included Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other Dallas civic leaders, Dr. Holmes preached a fiery sermon that blended the political and the prophetic.

Based on Jeremiah 8:18- 22, the sermon was titled, "Is There a Doctor in the House?" He exhorted and encouraged the congregation to see their troubles as temporary.

"Trouble has an expiration date," he proclaimed. "We are just passing through. Do not get stuck. Keep moving. If not, the Holy Ghost will check your transcript and send us back until we get our lesson right."

Dr. Holmes joked with the congregants that he thought twice about coming back.

"A lot went through my head when I was asked to come back as interim pastor. I thought about the fact that I was the pastor for 28 years and I got out alive. Do I want to go back again?

"Now I am 10 years older, and the things I used to do, I cannot do anymore."

Prayers for those involved in the lawsuit that rocked this congregation were also on Dr. Holmes’ mind.

He asked that everyone remain in prayer for Gordon and his family and the Rev. Cameron Greer, who brought the suit, and his family.

A transition team has been put in place to help Dr. Holmes move the congregation forward. Also, conflict resolution resources from the North Texas Annual Conference are in place at St. Luke, giving members the opportunity to voice their concerns constructively and prepare for the future.

Before Dr. Holmes preached, Bishop Bledsoe gave the congregation assurances of his support and involvement with them.

"Bishops are not responsible for everything that happens in life, but a lot of times when things do happen, people expect the bishop to respond," he said.

"My commitment to you, St. Luke, is that I will walk with you and with Dr. Holmes. I am committed to this church. We will continue to lift up the name of Jesus Christ in good times and low times," he said.

Bishop Bledsoe was pleased with the large number of people helping in the process of healing and wholeness at St. Luke.

"They are moving in the right direction," he said.

"Dr. Holmes will need your help," Bishop Bledsoe told the congregation. "He is not full time. He is interim. He is doing the work necessary until we appoint someone. Most of all, God is able."

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Palmer lecturer offers lessons from tragic loss of husband, 2-year-old

By JOAN G. LA BARR

Special Contributor

Paula D'Arcy

The 2012 Palmer Studies in the Faith Lectures at Suncreek UMC in Allen struck a deeply poignant note as guest speaker Paula D'Arcy drew insights from her 37-year journey after the tragic deaths of her husband and 2-yearold daughter in an accident caused by a drunken driver.

The lectures, held Feb. 19-20, were dedicated to the memory of the Rev. Dr. James B. "Jim" Palmer, a longtime NTC pastor who died June 1.

Dr. Palmer's son, the Rev. Burt Palmer, is Suncreek's founding pastor. The February lectureship was launched in 2001 to honor the legacy of their father and grandfather, the Rev. Dr. George H. Palmer. Both the senior Palmers served more than 60 years as Methodist pastors. Burt Palmer, now pastor of Polk Street UMC in Amarillo, brings the Palmers' total years of service to almost 150, current Suncreek pastor the Rev. Tommy Palmer (no relation to the founding pastor) told clergy gathered for a Monday luncheon and lecture.

D'Arcy, a former psychotherapist who is a writer, playwright, retreat leader and speaker, shared her own gratitude to a pastor and small congregation that reached out after her devastating loss.

"We are real people living real lives. I was three months pregnant as I stood at the open grave of my husband and 2-year-old daughter. A little church in Connecticut carried me through. … All the people marshaled forces to help a very broken woman," she said.

She shared the image of a kayak moving across a seemingly still stream.

But the unseen current beneath carries the small craft, much like God's Spirit carries individual lives along.

In her journey since the tragedy, D'Arcy spent 13 years working with the Norman Vincent Peale Foundation and interacted with some well-known writers and figures of faith like the late Keith Miller and Frederick Buechner.

It was Miller who saw himself in the young D'Arcy and told her that the most important key to moving forward is taking the next step every day.

D'Arcy also described her first book tour and the ordeal of TV promotions in which the interviewers obviously hadn't read the book and distractedly read tip sheets while she was on camera.

Then in Baltimore, a young interviewer told her how much she had enjoyed the book, Song for Sarah, in which she had shared her experiences after the loss of her child.

The interviewer invited other bereaved parents to be in the studio audience to ask questions.

Afterward, D'Arcy couldn't remember the interviewer's name, but wrote the station to express her thanks. The letter she received in return indicated how pleased they were that she had enjoyed working with the young Oprah Winfrey.

"We can show up and go through all of the emotions, and still not be alive. We cannot give away what is not alive in us. That is why this life is so important," D'Arcy told the clergy group.

Song for Sarah has been updated, including insights from her second daughter, Beth.

In 2001, D'Arcy established the Red Bird Foundation to support the spiritual growth of those in need across the world, including prisoners.

More information on D'Arcy and her foundation is available at www.redbirdfoundation.com.

Ashes to Go takes ministry to the streets

Sudden inspiration: Ashes to Go takes Lent to commuters

This is an edited excerpt from A Rusty Rev's Ramblings, the blog of the Rev. Russell Floyd, senior pastor of First UMC Irving, about going to the streets for a creative Ash Wednesday ministry.

Ash Wednesday started early for me, as the morning had not yet broken over the horizon. I stopped at Starbucks for a gallon of coffee. I traveled through the empty downtown streets of Dallas and Irving, headed to First UMC Irving to offer a ministry called "Ashes to Go."

Waiting for me, as I arrived shortly before 6 a.m., were Shardel Brock and her truck, which needed to be loaded with tables and supplies. After mixing the ashes and loading the truck, we were ready to head over to the South Irving Transit Station, two blocks over. As we headed out the door, Paula, the church's building attendant, asked if she could be the first to receive this mark of humility.

Other volunteers soon arrived. In the dark, they completed the setup on a sidewalk. We waited expectantly and somewhat nervously, wondering what was next. We wished a few people good morning and offered water or coffee to those within reach of our voices. Most passed by us quickly, some with nothing more than a nod. Occasionally, a person would come to the tables and receive our hospitality, but be a bit reluctant about the ashes.

The young woman may have not been the first, but she broke the ice when she came running off the train to catch her bus to the next connection. Loudly, she screamed, "I need ashes!" Ashes were applied and a blessing spoken.

She ran to catch her bus, marked by a sign of mortality but assured God's grace was sufficient. Ashes to Go was off and running!

I think the woman energized the volunteers, who asked if I would bless them and apply the sign on their foreheads. The pace of the morning picked up as our freshly adorned servants became bolder in their kindness.

The Rev. Russell Floyd applies ashes to a commuter at the South Irving DART station. She was one of 75-100 to ask for ashes.

Photo by Terri Floyd

Around 7 a.m., the sun began to rise. Theresa Bowers was now setting the pace, going up and down the sidewalks, offering morning refreshments to all. More people gathered around the table. We shared with them that today was Ash Wednesday and handed them information about its meaning. Cheryl Jennings dropped off eight dozen doughnuts, crowd-pleasers for the hungry commuters.

Every few moments, a person would slide beside me to receive the holy sign and often converse in holy conversation. My message was consistent, even to the young man whose mind was easily distracted. He asked me how to pray. I shared with him the same message I shared with all: "No matter how susceptible you may feel or how difficult life may seem, the grace of God is never beyond your reach." He took with him a Bible, clutching it tightly.

A moment of anxiety arose about midmorning, when a man in a DART uniform exclaimed I was the man he was looking for! I apprehensively asked him what I could do for him. He blurted out, "Ashes! I need ashes!" He became the catalyst for the other DART employees, who made their way to our table during their morning breaks. A few asked for the imposition of ashes. One man said, "I get up so early and . . . I cannot go to services tonight. Thank you for making this possible."

One DART driver stopped his bus and made his passengers wait while I stuck my head in to offer him ashes on his forehead. A volunteer handed him a cup of coffee before he drove away.

As I looked around, our volunteers were in constant conversation with whoever would receive our hospitality. People surprisingly and openly shared their blessings and struggles to these lay ministers of First Methodist. People who were church volunteers when they awoke this morning became trumpets of God's love as they confidently spoke of Christ's ability to provide what any person may need. Two commuters, initially reluctant, came to the table after watching for more than 20 minutes. One asked for a drink, and the other desired to receive ashes.

One lady drove by slowly, then backed up. She inquired if this was Ashes to Go. I don't know how she knew because I don't think she could see our signs. I stuck my head in the VW Bug, put the mark on her head and blessed her as she drove away.

People came from every station in life, all of them knowing they were in need of grace. The defining moment occurred at end of our time at the transit center. Associate Pastor Sammy Hargrove had arrived to help load up the tables and supplies. He and I looked around, and there were three ministry conversations going on without help of clergy. We could not hear what was said, but it was obvious that tender conversations were taking place.

The people of First UMC Irving were addressing real needs of real people. These street corner ministers had all the help they needed, the faithful presence of the Spirit of God.

To read more of Rev. Floyd's blog, go to rustyrev.wordpress.com.