Washington Grove United Methodist Church

MARCH/APRIL  2010

Turning around is the hard part…

Have you ever been lost without realizing it?  It is such a strange feeling, as you pass landmarks that look almost right, but not quite.  For a directionally challenged person like myself, the brain only slowly recognizes that something is not quite right.  Once, when riding on the Metro, I noticed a river passing by under the train bridge, with a vague sense of disquiet.  “Odd,” I thought—“I didn’t realize there was a branch of the Potomac in this part of  Maryland …”  Only later did it occur to me that I was in Virginia , and getting further from Maryland every minute!  It took some time to get off the train, find the right platform, and get on a new train headed back home.  But the hard part was coming to the realization that I was on the wrong train in the first place.

As the seasons of the Christian year roll around, here it is—Lent again.  Lent is that season of repentance--not the most upbeat concept in modern life.  Repentance comes to us weighed down with images of sackcloth and ashes, of sin, confession, of humbling ourselves and asking forgiveness.  And we do need to do the weighty work of recognizing our sins and asking God’s forgiveness, both during Lent and every other time of the year.  But sackcloth and ashes aren’t the main meaning of repentance.  To “repent” comes from the Hebrew verb “shuv,” which literally means to turn around.  What God asks us to do each Lent, most of all, is to make the needed course corrections in our lives.  God asks us to turn around, and to return to the path of faith through prayer and through studying the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.  For me, one reason it’s hard to accept this understanding of repentance is that it’s actually a lot easier to apologize.  Instead, I need to actually act differently.  It isn’t easy, but turning around is a much more effective—more practical—understanding of repentance.

The truth is, every year in one way or another we tend to find ourselves on a train, speeding in some direction other than God.  We tend to find ourselves being guided by some conductor other than compassion and truth.  Sometimes we want to make a big show of covering ourselves in sackcloth and ashes, while still sitting on the wrong train.  But if we are speeding away from God’s way, sackcloth won’t help.  Yet, once we get off the train of materialism, the train of selfishness, the train of judging others while not questioning ourselves--God’s redemptive grace springs into action.  And it truly is Amazing grace, grace like a river, joy like a train ride.  As we turn back, turning towards loving God and our neighbor, towards justice and truth, we feel God carrying us.  Resurrection and springtime begin in us.  Where to this year?   On the “gospel train” life is an adventure; full of surprises, like the unexpected beauty of the river—but it is always the river of grace--the river of home.  Happy Easter!  May Christ be reborn in you. 

Pastor Judy

Pastor's Welcome and Bio 

    It is a joy to serve Washington Grove, and to welcome your participation in all areas of our fellowship, worship, and ministry in the town within a forest.  Todos son bienvenidos al iglesia de Washington Grove, en el pueblicito adentro de una selva!

   I am a commissioned probationary elder in the Baltimore Washington Conference, and a pastor who believes that we are all called into ministry in the body of Christ.  We love, because God first loved us.  My husband, David, shares in my commitment to serve the church and the community in every way we can.  We have two college-aged sons, Scott and Mark.  Scott is attending UMBC, Mark is a student at Elon University and currently studying in Costa Rica. 

   I speak Spanish because David and I had the chance to live in Mexico and in Costa Rica during David’s time as a Foreign Service officer.  Now I enjoy the chance to include Spanish in our music and ministry whenever possible.  Con el trabajo de David, tenia la suerte de vivir in Latino America, entonces hablo espanol.  Disfruto oportunidades para incluir espanol en nuestra musica y ministerio lo mas que possible.      

Grace and Peace!         Judy Young

About our Church

Washington Grove is a friendly small church.  Both new members and long-time members call each other by name, and care about each other, as well as about others who suffer in our community.  We live the truth that we are all members of the family of Christ.  Our mission is to equip people of all ages for ministry and service in the community and around the world.  Our life together involves worship, fun, study, and service.