Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more…
Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield…
(“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” United Methodist Hymnal #127)
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As I sat down to compose these thoughts, the words of this beloved hymn came to mind. At present, war rages in Ukraine, a new COVID variant is making headlines, our Congress has found time to pass legislation for daylight savings time but not voting rights and our UMC continues to mirror worldly divides rather than offering a Gospel alternative. No wonder that many of us are running on empty, struggling to keep it together.
It is easy to think that this moment is the only time such a cluster of challenges have overwhelmed our nation and our world. It’s true that each moment is unique in its particulars. And today revolutionary changes in communications and weapons technology intensify our experience of current realities. However, in every age, human beings have confronted some version of “barren land,” a landscape that is bleak, frightening, overwhelming, and without a clear path to follow.
The words of the hymn above were penned by William Williams (1717-1791), a Welsh pastor. One scholar notes, “One of the reasons this hymn has influenced [so many] is the universal subject of struggle. Every Christian, and indeed everyone, encounters difficulties. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah affirms the reality that… this God who provided for the Hebrew people wandering amidst barren lands with bread of heaven is still and ever will be a God of provisional grace.”*
The invitation is to trust that God will continue to “lead us all our journey through.” I leave you with the hymn’s third stanza directly translated from the original Welsh, reflecting the joy of the Israelites upon their arrival in Canaan.
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When I go through Jordan -
Cruel death in its force -
Thou Thyself suffered this before,
Why shall I fear further?
“Victory!”…
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On the journey with you,
ginger+
* found at UMC Discipleship Ministries website
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Taking Care of Creation
Doug Barker
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The season of Lent invites me to pause and reflect, to be more fully present and intentional in thought and actions.
This year I find myself contemplating humanity’s relentless destruction of creation. It is threatening our very existence. I am complicit in this sad state of affairs. But I am not helpless.
For me, God is nowhere more manifest than in creation, in nature. We are part of nature and nature heals. And now, as winter gives way to spring the promise of new growth is all around us.
One way that I am choosing to translate my love of creation into action is by being a member of Foundry’s Green Ministry team. The team’s work led Foundry’s Board recently to adopt a comprehensive plan to increase Foundry’s energy efficiency by upgrading our heating and air conditioning equipment and controls, lighting, and appliances, saving water with new fixtures and rainwater harvesting, and improving the building envelope with window inserts and weatherization.
These upgrades will reduce our energy use and our carbon footprint and prepare us to meet new DC efficiency standards. Financed through a bank loan, this investment will over time yield a positive financial return through energy savings and avoided costs.
The Green Ministry team is also exploring ways to encourage Foundry members to live our commitment to creation care in our everyday activities. Some of us are now choosing to show our love of God, humanity, and nature through what we do in our own yards and gardens.
In my yard, I have embarked on a multi-year journey, transitioning away from mostly lawn and various exotic plants whose upkeep all too often adds to pollution and provides little ecological value. Along with others I am nurturing native and food-producing trees and plants that support birds, pollinators, fresh food, clean water and clean air and in the process reconnecting ourselves to nature and to God.
In this way, I can transform my grief over environmental destruction into action connecting me to life and helping make our world a healthier, more resilient, and even more beautiful place for all of creation.
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Doug Barker and his husband Sam Kilpatrick are long-time members of Foundry. Doug and Sam live in the Crestwood neighborhood of DC nestled into the east side of Rock Creek Park.
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Foundry Forward
April 2022 ACTION ITEMS
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Sunday, April 3
"Can Good Be Common?"
As we continue exploring the roots of resistance, Pastor Ginger Gaines-Cirelli preaches on the texts, Isaiah 43:16-21 and John 12:1-8. Is sacred resistance a zero-sum situation? Do we sometimes focus too much on one cause or one group and thereby deny others the attention they deserve? How do we find the balance?
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Preparation for Table Flip
Join us on Sunday, April 3 from 10–11 a.m. in the Community Commons to help us create the items we will use in our act of public witness on Table Flip Sunday (Palm Sunday). Email Jackie Wright with any questions at jackie@foundryumc.org.
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Sunday, April 10
Palm Sunday
As Holy Week begins, we will welcome new members into the Foundry community and place our final orders for Easter flowers. Pastor Ginger will preach on the 19th chapter of Luke, verses 28-48, illuminating the challenge of discerning both the beauty and the brokenness of situations. Our call is to step into the gap between them and do what we can to make it better.
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Table Flip
Join us on the Foundry plaza on Palm Sunday, April 10, at 12:30 p.m. as we engage in an act of public witness, physically removing from our tables representations of the items and qualities that destroy creation and communal life. Then we’ll reset our tables with the items that represent a more just future.
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Thursday, April 14
Maundy Thursday
Moving fully into Holy Week, we remember the Last Supper, at this 7 p.m. service, led by Pastor Will Ed Green. We will also be doing Communion, hand washing and foot washing. It will be both in person and online.
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Friday, April 15
Good Friday
Today we gather at noon and 7 p.m. to remember Jesus’ death on the cross and reflect on His church, a community of the cross, inherently engaged in sacred resistance. What do we do to become a “Cross-Shaped Community”?
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Saturday, April 16
Prepare the Sanctuary
Come join Foundry’s Altar Guild from 9 to noon and help prepare our sanctuary for Easter! All are welcome but do register at foundryumc.org/decorate.
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Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 16, bring your little ones to the bunny hop parade and Easter egg hunt in Stead Park from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are free of charge, but you must reserve a time slot in advance. For more information and to register, go to foundryumc.org/egg-hunt.
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Easter Sunday, April 17
He Lives!
It is the most glorious day of all, Easter Sunday! And this year we can be together to celebrate at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. as Pastor Ginger preaches on “The First Day.” Her text is Luke 24:1-12. Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
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Sunday, April 24
“Resilience for Times When…”
Guest Preacher James A. Harnish leads off this new sermon series, preaching at both services. During this Easter season, we will find inspiration in stories from the early church recorded in the book of Acts. Harnish is the retired senior pastor of Tampa’s Hyde Park UMC and author of the Disciple’s Path Daily Workbook.
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Great Day of Service
On Sunday, April 24, join us in putting faith into action! Come pack meals with Rise against Hunger from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meals will be sent to neighbors in disaster-affected regions along with feeding programs at schools and in other communities. Families and friends are encouraged to volunteer together! Sign up for your time slot here.
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Sunday, April 24 & Thursday, April 28
A Disciple’s Heart
Methodists believe that there is always more work for God to do in our human hearts. A Disciple’s Heart explores the role continued commitment to personal spiritual growth plays in the journey of discipleship. One seven-week course begins on Sundays today from 10–11 a.m. and a second begins April 28 on Thursdays from 7–8 p.m.
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Tuesday, April 26
Foundry Board Meeting
Foundry’s Board will have their regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Foundry members interested in attending may use this Zoom link: foundryumc.org/board-meeting.
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