]]> http://westlakeumcyouth.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/ministry-with-the-poor/feed/ 0 westlakeumcyouth http://westlakeumcyouth.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/hello-world/ http://westlakeumcyouth.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/hello-world/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:56:46 +0000 WestlakeUMC Youth http://westlakeumcyouth.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/hello-world/ Continue reading →]]>

What characterizes Christianity in the modern world is its odd-ness. Christianity is a home for people who are out of step, unfashionable, unconventional and counter-cultural. As Peter says, the church fills itself with “strangers and aliens.”

Following One, Serving All

These words are not simply a motto or catch phrase.  Rather, this is the directive for life as an “alien” who accepts Jesus’ claim on oneself and becomes a follower of Christ.  Living a life bound to Christ calls us to be in relation with one another.  The Scriptures tell us we are Brothers and Sisters; we are all parts of the Body of Christ.  WUMC has a mission orientated heart and youth that push us to walk in faith as often, if not more so, as we push them to do the same.

For over a year, our WUMC Youth have shared this program with our sister church Parker Lane UMC.  Parker Lane, often referred to by the youth as PLUM, is an East Austin church and their parishioners come from very different class and racial make-ups than our parishioners. No one wants to share…No one likes awkward situations…being with people who look, talk and act so different than what we are comfortable with. Yet we are called to be in community with one another, to love and serve one another. Through this relationship, the youth fellowship with one another, find common ground, and even befriend one another; the lines of color and money begin to blur.

I spend a lot of my time thinking that “we must look so weird,” and I find Peters words again.  We are weird.  We are a broken, messy people.  But we are family here at WUMC-PLUMC…will you join our family?