It was recently suggested that I write something concerning my thoughts on giving out Blessing Bags.  I agreed… but only reluctantly.  I am afraid that what I have to say will not inspire feelings akin to those aroused from a Norman Rockwell painting or a Hallmark Movie.  I am afraid that the pragmatist in me tends to stifle the Pollyanna of my youth.  

I keep these bags in my car and I give them out as the opportunity arises.  I just see it as the right thing to do.  Most times there isn’t much interaction because I am in my car with impatient traffic behind me.  Often these bags are handed over a rolled down window or I have to perform a sketchy traffic signal dash and handoff… upsetting other drivers behind me no doubt.  I do have a few regulars, but mostly I just give them away when the opportunity arises.  So when I was asked to write something regarding the “why”,  I had to… again reluctantly… step back and mull things over a bit.

Frankly, when I see the recipients of these bags, I wonder how much good they can possibly do. For whatever reason, most of those receiving these bags are either mentally or physically addled in some way.  I find myself sometimes asking what happened.  I also ask myself why they should be there and I should be here.  Was it just dumb luck?  Were they born with genetically unfortunate chromosomes?  Have they suffered some mind scrambling trauma?  Are their faculties misfiring due to some sort of chemical abuse?  Maybe they are just cross-threaded with society.  Those on this side of the “Rainbow Bridge” will probably never know for sure.  What we do know is that they are fellow children of God and they seemingly need help. 

But again, how much good can one of these bags do?  I have asked myself this question over this past week.  Having had a bit of time for this question to percolate, the miracle of the “loaves and fishes” seems to have floated to the surface.  In fact, now that I think about it, it is more than a bit humbling.  Simply put, who am I to say what God can do with one of these bags? 

Do I believe that one of these bags can feed 5000?  Sure, absolutely!  Do I believe it is probable that it will be like a magician pulling rabbits out of hats?  Not really.   Having said that, what if the simple act of giving this bag not only gives a bit of food or clothing but it also gives a bit of hope.  Maybe some simple hope will inspire optimism.  Maybe this optimism will inspire confidence.  Maybe the confidence will inspire that person to fulfill Gods will for something greater than any of us can imagine.  Who am I to say what God can do with one of these blessing bags?  Really, who am I to try to limit what God can do with these humble contents?

As I ruminated a bit more I remembered something else.  I once heard someone speculate that the feeding of the crowd from the few fish and loaves was a different kind of miracle.  The miracle was that Jesus inspired others in the crowd to also share the food they brought.  In the same way, the entire crowd was fed.  Having walked among humans on this silly planet for a number of years I can honestly say that inspiring an entire crowd of humans to be generous might be an even bigger miracle than divinely replicated fish and bread!

So maybe… just maybe… the recipient of the blessing bag takes out one or two items and shares the rest.  Maybe they want the crackers but don’t need the gloves.  Maybe the next person needs the socks and the next person needs the toothpaste.   Maybe the contents are shared among many people.  Maybe, in turn, those people share what little else they have with others who do the same.  Maybe each act of sharing brings a bit of hope to each recipient.  A little hope can go a long way.

So maybe I am not generous or brave enough to give all I have.  It is highly unlikely that I will ever invite a street person home and provide for their needs.  I struggle with this as I have been greatly blessed in this life for sure.  However, despite my own selfish limitations…despite my own faults… still… as I give out these bags… I have hope.  God can make good even with broken people like me.

Anonymous

Lakeshore Summer Camp 2023

By Miss Evie Johns

My experience every summer at Lakeshore Camp and Retreat Center is always incredible. The summer camp in Eva, TN, has been like a second home to me since my first visit at a church retreat with Reverend Camille in fourth grade. I remember
staying the weekend, making a good friend, and going home more excited than ever to tell my parents what a great time I had and beg them to sign me up for an overnight camp that summer. And what can I say? I’ve been going back ever
since.

This year the Junior High Camp focused on the fruit of the spirit as our theme for the week. We dove deep into the meanings of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control over “the course”
of the week. We also discussed their purpose and why they are the fruits of the spirits. Toward the end of the week, we talked about carrying the fruits of the spirit into our everyday lives after leaving camp and how to show them
to others to be a witness to Jesus Christ. In short, I had such a fantastic experience at Lakeshore this year, learned a lot, and made many new friends.

Evie

It’s usually a salad, a main course, and a dessert with tea, lemonade, or water. But is it oh so much more!

 I have attended Wednesday Night Dinner since I was a teenager in MYF. It has always been a time of fellowship, feeding the soul and the body. About 31 years ago, I began attending Mullins UMC. My husband wasn’t keen on organized religion, but I told him they had food on Wednesday nights, so he was on board. I just stepped back and watched this church family love him into the congregation. Soon he and our child were baptized, and he officially joined the Mullins congregation. As many of you know, the rest is history! I know deep in my heart that being part of the Mullins church family has helped keep our marriage strong through many difficult times, and it was beautiful to share all of our joys with folks who are genuinely happy for us.

Wednesday Night Dinner has always been a time of fellowship and an opportunity to get to know from the youngest to the oldest in our church family, something that doesn’t happen in Sunday School or Sunday Service. Breaking bread together strengthens those bonds of friendship and gives us time to talk and share our lives. It is that middle-of-the-week boost that bridges the gaps between Sundays. It always seems to be a hunger for time with church family and a good meal.   COVID hit stopped the suppers and left a massive hole in our hearts, as we didn’t get to mingle with our church family. I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I decided to make sure that it would happen once a month, and it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming – I think we all longed for this fellowship time.

In talking with Pastor Morrow, I think it is time to bring it back to once per week again, so anyone who wants to help meal plan or help set up or clean up afterward, please let him or me know! And if you know of a cook that might want to be there weekly, that would be a good thing, too. (We all miss Geraldine, but she deserves this retirement, so we must be happy for her and hold her delicious meals in our memories!) We are looking into options to make the weekly gathering happen, so all suggestions are welcome.

Christ’s Peace,

Terrye

When I think of Worship at Mullins UMC, I think of my church family gathered. I think of the reading of the scriptures, the singing of the songs of our faith, and our Pastor bringing us together in the Word to encourage us, to bring us hope, or to challenge us to live our lives, our WHOLE life, as a testimony to bring glory to God in everything we do and to bring new brothers and sisters into the fold.

The worship service at Mullins is intentionally diverse. We recognize we are a multigenerational, multicultural body coming from various socioeconomic walks of life, all gathering in an area of Memphis that lends itself to growing even more diverse as we seek to expand our congregation. Our services offer a variety of music that include piano, pipe organ, special-events orchestras, handbells, guitar, flute, trombone, and even an occasional banjo. I love it! My favorites are often the classics, but I enjoy the experience of trying new things, and I love watching the faces of the congregation from the choir loft when we offer something new and different, which is well-received.

As a United Methodist Church, we recognize and embrace the importance of liturgy in our church and enjoy the opportunities to gather for services that include Holy Communion, Baptisms, and Marriages, to name a few. We are blessed to have an artist as a part of our Worship Team who ensures the proper liturgical colors are in place and used every week and treats us to some awe-inspiring additions from time to time throughout the year. Incorporating all the senses in the worship experience is one we recognize to be Spirit-led and powerful.

When we gather for worship, we celebrate one another. We share concerns and praises every week, and we seek to recognize any visiting with us to let them know their presence gives us great joy and blesses us as much as we hope their attendance with us blesses them.

Worship is the focus of our church and guides us to the rest of our Mission to our neighborhood, our city, and the world through study, service, and witness. I am blessed to be able to attend in person every week or online when the need arises. My soul is filled, and I pray that I am a better person to my neighbors because I am a worshiping member of Mullins United Methodist Church. ALL are welcome and invited for worship. Our doors are open.