Coming to Montview Church this summer, I’ve been fascinated—as we all have—by the stonework being done on the labyrinth outside.  We’re all eager to walk it, to enter into its meditative mystery, especially as a garden of trees will soon add to its charm. Being brand new at Montview, this construction work on the South Campus has made me think about the difference between a labyrinth and a maze. The two aren’t the same.

For Patricia and myself, walking into an altogether new congregation this summer could easily have been a maze experience rather than a labyrinth. A maze is a tricky and confusing puzzle, filled with false passages and dead-ends. Its chaotic uncertainty demands hard choices. By contrast, a labyrinth assures us of its final destination; it has a single pathway. Moving inexorably toward its goal, we may take a long time to achieve it. But we can’t make a wrong turn. We only have to exercise patience in moving toward its end. A quiet order, not chaos, is what defines a labyrinth.

Our arrival at Montview has been like moving easily into a pattern of walking with others along divergent paths that all come together as well. It’s an exciting congregation, full of people interested in all sorts of things. But there’s a common goal to it all—echoed in the marvelous music, the informal yet traditional worship, the deep concerns for social justice, inclusiveness, and outreach into the world. We feel as if we’ve stumbled onto an extended family we hadn’t known before. Patricia and I don’t know how to be grateful enough for this—for the warmth extended to us, for a staff that works so well together, for Lindy Doty’s kindness in making her house available to us, for a church that truly practices hospitality. It’s a delight to be here.

With gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Belden Lane

Dear Friends,

As most of you know by now, I am just about to begin a three-month sabbatical.  The word ‘sabbatical’ comes from the same root as ‘Sabbath’, the biblical commandment to stop and rest.  This is not easy for many of us in our “Go” culture and it seems to fly in the face of our deeply ingrained values of productivity and achievement.  But the Bible is not anti-productivity or anti-achievement.  In fact, just the opposite.  God was quite productive in the first six days of creation before God rested on the seventh!

The wisdom of our tradition suggests that to truly be productive, sometimes the best thing to do is stop, look around, and take stock of the situation and what is really needed.  That is also the wisdom behind the long tradition of providing sabbaticals to ministers.  If we look to our ministers to help us make sense of this confusing world, it is important that they are not getting caught up in the fads and fancies of the day.  To look at the world from a spiritual perspective requires that we go more slowly, take a larger view.

This is my hope during my time away.  Rather than just being a vacation (although there will certainly be times to just rest and enjoy), the goal of a sabbatical for a minister is to ground oneself in God’s spirit.  To that end, I will be doing a number of things that will intentionally move me into that ‘thin space’ where we sense God moving.  For example, I will begin the sabbatical with a 12-day backpacking trip that includes four days of fasting and three days alone in the wilderness.  When I am home, I will spend the mornings building a stone hermitage, placing each stone carefully in a kind of embodied prayer.  In the afternoons I will spend time in prayer and do some spiritual reading.

My hope is to return to Montview refreshed, renewed, and centered in God’s presence so that I can be of use on your spiritual journey to do the same.  I wish you a restful summer filled with Sabbath moments of wonder and joy and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Wishing you God’s peace and joy,

Greg

Dear Friends,

As some of you know, I will be on sabbatical this summer from May 8th through August 7th.  I am grateful to have this time away and I want to thank you and the Session for your long tradition of supporting clergy sabbaticals here at Montview.

I am happy to report that I received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Program (see www.lillyendowment.org/religion).  The purpose of these grants is to allow clergy to step aside for a few months from leading and caring for a congregation, and instead pursue something completely different that “makes our hearts sing.”  For me, masonry has captured my imagination and my passion in recent years, and I am eager to pursue my dream of building a 10’ by 10’ solid stone shed in my backyard that I will use as a “hermitage” – a place to write, pray and meditate.  I look forward to sharing pictures of it with you when I return (provided it is still standing).  During my time away, I will also refresh my spirit by taking three trips; one to New Mexico with my family, one to British Columbia with Laura, and one by myself as part of a backpacking trip/retreat in the Four Corners area.

Part of the grant will cover expenses at Montview for increased staff support while I am away.  We are very fortunate that the Rev. Dr. Belden Lane has agreed to come to Denver from St. Louis University where he serves as a professor in the Theology Department.  Dr. Lane is an ordained Presbyterian minister and a well-known author. He will serve at Montview during my absence for 20 hours a week, preaching regularly, helping in the office and teaching a class.  I know Dr. Lane personally and cannot speak highly enough about him.  We are very fortunate to have him come and I have no doubt that Montview is in for an exciting summer.

I look forward to returning with fresh ideas and fresh energy to share with you as we continue this journey together to better know God’s grace and love.

Blessings on the way,
Greg

Habitat for Humanity at Montview

Montview has been actively involved with Habitat for Humanity since 1999.  By providing financial support and construction volunteers we have helped to build 10 affordable homes benefiting 35 low-income family members in Metro Denver.  Despite Montview’s current budget shortfall we remain committed to this important local mission.
This summer we have the opportunity to continue this important work by helping to sponsor a home in the Bails Townhome Community.
• Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s largest project
• Provides affordable housing to 24 low-income families, benefiting 58 children
• Innovative, green, transit-oriented development near I-25 and Colorado Boulevard
• A multi-cultural community with families from 13 countries
Habitat for Humanity carefully selects each family from among hundreds of applicants, based on their needs and ability to repay the reduced cost of their home. In addition, each adult must complete 250 hours of sweat equity with Habitat.  Mohamed Ibrahim and his mother and niece whom he supports will live in the home we are sponsoring.  The Ibrahim family is originally from Egypt and has been living in the United States for about 10 years.  Mohamed, who been working two jobs, sees his new Habitat home as a stable place to settle down and eventually start a family.
Our goals during the month
- Raise sufficient funds necessary to continue our tradition of financial sponsorship
- Provide 10 construction volunteers on each of our seven build days

Provide Financial Support

$85,000 cost to build a Habitat home
$10,000 needed to be a home sponsor
$5,000 committed by Faith in Action committee
$5,000 min. goal to be raised by the congregation
WHAT YOUR DONATION BUYS:
• $10 a box of nails
• $25 a doorknob
• $50 three gallons of paint
• $75 a kitchen sink
• $100 a window
• $250 a front door
• $500 four walls
• $1,000 kitchen cabinets
• $2,500 a foundation
- Every dollar helps, contribution envelopes will be available in the Commons
- Watch the progress of our fundraising efforts build the townhouse on the display board in the Commons

Volunteer a Day of Service

Countless hours of volunteer labor are required to build a home.  This is a rewarding way to spend a day (or two or more), to work with other members of the congregation, to help another family have a better future, to have fun and to feel a great sense of accomplishment.
No experience is needed
You must be at least 16 years old and able to do moderate physical work from 9:00 – 4:30

Volunteer work days will be:

• Saturday August 7
• Thursday August 19

- Child care will be available at Montview on several of these dates
- Sign-up sheets will be in the Commons

Contact Ellen West for more information or to sign-up – call or text 303-601-4100 or email ellen_west@comcast.net

As I write this in the middle of December, our fiscal year is drawing to a close and the Session is busy discussing the 2010 budget.  During this time of year, the numbers we work with change quickly as people make end of year gifts for 2009 and others call the financial office to make their Estimate of Giving (EOG) for 2010.

Knowing that things will change by the time you read this, here’s where we stand today.  It appears that for 2009 we will break even; a sign of strong financial management by the elders in a difficult economic environment.  Looking to 2010, we have some good news and some challenges.  The good news is that we have more people who have increased their EOG than who have had to decrease them, for a net increase of $9,806. We also have 41 new EOG’s so far.  These are both good signs for Montview, especially when so many of us face uncertain job situations in 2010.

The concern at this point is that of those who made an EOG in 2009, only 65% have gotten their estimates in for 2010.  If you are among the remaining 35%, please make it a priority to spend some time discerning how God is leading you to support Montview.

I especially hope this letter reaches those of you who have not made an EOG to Montview in the past.  Even if you have given regularly to Montview through the years, I want to ask you to call the financial office and make an Estimate of Giving for 2010.

Why is this important?  Because we make decisions about Montview’s building, staff and ministries based on those numbers.  For example, say you will likely give $2,000 to Montview this year, but haven’t told the church what that estimate is.  If we don’t know what amount to expect, we may decide to cut a program, or a salary or a mission trip, when we really didn’t need to.  And, of course, behind every program, salary and mission trip, there are lives.  Real people are impacted by what Montview decides it can and cannot do each year.

So please, if you are able, let us know that Montview Church is important to you by calling Dan Gasser in the Finance office (303-355-1651, ext. 112 or gasser@montview.org) to make your Estimate of Giving for 2010.  If things change during the year, you can, of course, adjust your EOG as needed.

Montview Church is as strong as the faithful commitment each of us makes each year.  Please support our community and our work in the world by giving generously.

In Christ,

The Rev. Greg Cummins

The discussion will be led by Dr. Jeffrey H. Mahan.  An active part of the Montview family, Jeffrey is ordained in the United Methodist Church and holds the Ralph E. and Norma E. Peck Chair in Religion and Public Communication at the Iliff School of Theology.  His teaching and research focus on teasing out the relationships between religion and popular culture.

The retreat will start on the afternoon of October 8 and be completed by the afternoon of October 9 and will be at Highlands Presbyterian Camp.  The cost for the retreat is $60.00 for those staying in the cabin and $100.00 for those staying in the lodge.  The deadline for registration and payment is September 22 .  For more information contact Drew Currie at 303-746-9001 or drewcurrie@comcast.net.