An Exciting Weekend!

I wanted to take some time to share some highlights from my weekend:

• On Saturday evening, my little brother (through BBBS) Isaac, and I went to the Milwaukee Bucks home opener at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It was a great game that ended in a Buck's victory. Now, the game tipped off at 7:30PM, which ended with a trip to Oshkosh to drop off Isaac. I got home at around 12:30AM. It was a rough wake-up at 6:30AM!
• Morning worship services went well at both churches. When you include the folks that came to our evening worship service in Oakfield, we ended up having 48 folks in worship. That is three Sundays in a row in which we have had over 40 people in worship. I am hopeful that this is a trend!
• On Sunday afternoon, Christa handed out candy to the kids of Oakfield and the surrounding community for Halloween. I mostly watched football, but it was also nice to see the kids (and some parents) all decked out for Halloween. Football and candy...you can't ask for a better Sunday! :-D

I hope everyone had a fun and enjoyable weekend!

Service Schedule for October 31st - "Reformation Sunday"

Sunday Morning Worship

“Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right with them, but the righteous live by their faith.”

- Habakkuk 2:4

How familiar are you with the Book of Habakkuk? I will confess that I was not too familiar with this prophet either. But, there is an important lesson that we can gain from his conversation with God. That's right! Habakkuk asks God a question, several questions in fact. He asks the same questions that we do: Why does evil prosper? Why doesn't God listen to me? Why is justice not done?

God has an answer for us; he has answer for these difficult questions. I hope you will be able to join us in our morning worship services as we explore whether or not we are ready to accept his answer!

The scripture lessons for this Sunday morning are:

• Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
• Luke 19:1-10

Sunday Evening Worship at Oakfield

At 7:00PM, you are welcome to join us for an evening worship that addresses the question: How do we prepare for worship? Let us discuss together how we can prepare before a worship service, how we can get the most out of worship and how we can put into practice that which we experience in worship. Also join us for Holy Communion during the service.

Our November evening worship services will look at four different questions relating to prayer:

• Why do we pray?
• How do we pray?
• For whom or for what do we pray?
• When do we pray?

Being a Part of Something Big

This morning I was asked to speak at an event for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Oshkosh/Appleton called "Be a Part of Something Big". I was to provide a testimonial to the role that BBBS has played in my life and in the life of my little brother, Isaac. I would summarize my thoughts in this entry, but I thought I might just allow you to read my letter.

Big Brothers Big Sisters needs our help. I hope you might consider helping out in some way:

Good morning everyone. My name is Jim Droste and I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to share a few words with you this morning about the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I am currently serving as pastor for two United Methodist churches. Having worked on college campuses for about ten years, I felt a call in my life to make a change. I decided to follow God’s call to ministry. This move has significantly changed my life for the better. It certainly has its struggles, but it has made life more meaningful and purposeful. I speak to you this morning about another decision that has significantly changed my life for the better.

Before being a pastor, I was a Residence Hall Director at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for six years. I shared a building with 200 college students. Part of my responsibility as a Residence Hall Director was to advise a hall government executive board. When we talked about volunteer opportunities for college students, one of those executive board members would often talk about her experiences as a big sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Jennie Kelly would talk about it was only about one hour a week, and she talked about what a great time she had. She mentioned how they were always looking for big brothers. One day, I finally decided that this was something that I could do. It was something that I wanted to do.

Isaac and I have been matched for now three years. Both of us are amazed that we have matched up that long. When we were first matched, I was still a residence hall director and he was in middle school. Now I am a pastor and he is in high school, doing football, wrestling and choir. It feels as though those three years went by so fast. It feels as though we have just been matched!

I have certainly enjoyed the time that we have been matched together. We share a lot of common interests. We talk a lot about Fantasy Football…mostly about how well his teams are doing and how bad my teams are doing. We talk about NFL football, about the Colts and Packers. We play video games…a lot of video games…probably more than we should. He has taught me a few lessons about being good at video games. We played a lot of miniature golf. I could teach him a few lessons about miniature golf. We have gone to concerts. We watch football games. We play pool. We get ice cream. Heck, this Saturday we have tickets for the Milwaukee Bucks season opener on Sunday. We certainly have a lot of fun when we hang out.

But, what I have really cherished is all the ways that I have seen Isaac grow as a person. Well, yes, there’s the physical growth…it won’t be long before he’s taller than me. More importantly, I have appreciated being there for significant moments in his life. I was there when he was confirmed. I have been there for wrestling meets and tournaments. I have been there for football games. I was there at his choir concerts, especially when he received a choir scholarship. He has become more confident and more outgoing. I have seen him grow as a person. I am proud of the person that he has become since we’ve been matched. I can’t tell you for sure what role I had in all of that, but it has been wonderful to be a part of it. Being an only child with a small family, I have appreciated the opportunity to be a part of his family. I have appreciated their support and being to be a part of their lives as well. I have appreciated getting to know Isaac’s mother and getting to know his sister. If the presence of family, I do feel like a brother to Isaac.

One drawback to my assignment to the churches in Oakfield and Eden is that I now live in the Fond du Lac area. With Isaac still in Oshkosh and me in Oakfield, distance can become an issue. Both of us are busier than we were when we were first matched. It prevents us from being able to hang out like we have before, but I appreciate the opportunities we do have to be together.

This morning I hope that you might think about the opportunities that Big Brothers Big Sisters provides for the community. Each match of a big and a little is an opportunity for a difference to be made in someone’s life. Your financial support this morning or some time in future helps to sponsor a match just like the one that Isaac and I have. There are hundreds of matches in Oshkosh alone that are providing similar results. Your presence here this morning shows a desire to support the mission and goals of this organization. Perhaps you might be interested in volunteering to help with a Big Brothers/Big Sisters event. Your participation here may provide an opportunity for you to make a difference in the life of child.

I have truly appreciated my time in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I filled out that application because I felt a call to help. I had no idea over the next few years what a difference being a part of Big Brothers/Big Sisters would do for me. I became “Part of Something Big”. I hope in some way soon, you might also choose to be “Part of Something Big.”

All Saints Sunday

This message is directed more toward members of the extended communities of Oakfield and Tabor UMC:

On November 7 at our worship services, we will be honoring All Saints Sunday. During the course of the worship service, we will take time to remember those who have passed away since last All Saints Sunday.

Certainly our office has records of those who have passed away in our congregations. We also do want to take time to remember those members of our extended church family that were not necessary members of our churches.

If you know of someone who should be recognized, please contact the church office at: (920) 583-3352. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Packer Game Reflections

Christa and I were at Lambeau Field last night to see the Green Bay Packers play the Minnesota Vikings. The game kicked off at about 7:20PM last night. The game did not end until about 10:30PM, and by the time we got onto Highway 41 it was midnight. We got back to Oakfield around 1:30AM. Somehow, I managed to get some sleep and am "functioning" this morning. Ideas are coming slower than normal, but I am getting by.

Last night's game was incredible. You could not have scripted a better game. Certainly, it was great that the Packers won. It was nice to beat the Vikings, and Brett Favre, in Lambeau Field.

Outside of the game, there were two moments that I really appreciated during the game. Minutes before kick-off, Packer Tramon Williams went over to a corner of the end zone and said a brief prayer before the game. It wasn't flashy and did not draw attention (except mine because I happened to be looking in that direction). Also after the game, players and coaches from both teams gathered at the 50 yard line for a post game prayer. This is not uncommon, but it was cool to see this in person.

Sadly, the excitement of the game and these touching moments was overshadowed by the embarrassing behaviors of Packer fans at the game. With any rivalry game, fans for both teams are going to try taunt the other fans. Unfortunately, our section of seating had a truly obnoxious Viking fan who consistent tormented fans around us. Although difficult to ignore, I did what I could. I wish my fellow fans would have done the same. I could not believe the things that they said to him. Most of them are not appropriate to post on this blog.

I would safely assume, demographically, that most of the people saying the things that they did would consider themselves Christians. Not so, based on what I saw last night. It was troubling, and embarrassing, to see and hear what happened during the game. What good does it do to disparage our fellow human beings?

Why must sports so often bring out the worst in people?

October 24 Service Schedule - Laity Sunday

This Sunday is Laity Sunday at Tabor & Oakfield. It is one Sunday in the year in which the United Methodist Church wants to recognize how important each member of the congregation is as we gather in worship. As such, the laity will be taking a primary role in our worship services. It is not a chance for the pastor to have a break; it is an opportunity for the pastor to step aside and join in a recognition of how we all work together through our prayers, presence, gifts and service to make our church what it is. Each church will be providing a unique worship experience!

At the Tabor church, almost the entire service will be led by members of the congregation. Instead of a sermon this Sunday, we will be treated to the faith stories of two members of our congregation. We will also be welcoming a new member into the congregation during worship as well. Overall, this service will be a wonderful recognition of the talents and abilities we have at Tabor UMC.

At the Oakfield church, several members of Oakfield, and one member of Tabor :-), will be helping with the worship service. Instead of a sermon, a drama called "Gifts" will be performed, followed by some questions pertaining to the gifts that we all bring to our church. We will then have a brief hymn response. This service will again recognize the talents and abilities that we have at Oakfield UMC.

It should be noted that we will not be having evening worship at Oakfield this Sunday. That service has been re-scheduled to October 31.

I hope you will be able to make to worship this Sunday as we celebrate Laity Sunday together as a congregation of believers.

New Programs Have Found a Home

We started a Bible Study and an Evening Worship Service which rotated between the two churches. This was definitely confusing for folks, but I wanted to give each church an opportunity to try it out. I wanted to see if there was any interest in one or both churches.

It became pretty evident pretty quickly that each of the churches responded more to one of the new initiatives.

In the three times that the evening worship service has been offered, we have had 10, 11 and 13 people in attendance. I realize that this rate of growth will likely not continue, but I can sense that this service is fulfilling a need in Oakfield. Perhaps with some community marketing and word of mouth advertising we might be able to grow this service!

In the times that the Bible study has been offered in Tabor, we have seen a consistent attendance that peeked with 13 folks in attendance on one Wednesday. It seemed to be a good idea to move the Bible study to Tabor.

Now we have a new event and program that is taking place in each church!