Pastor's E-Letter

Pastor's E-Letter

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Pastor E-Letter 6/12/20

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The first time I remember moving was in 1994. I was 9 years old and lived in Flowery Branch, GA. It was a new and exciting idea to move to a new town and get to meet new people. Even then I knew I was an extrovert who loved meeting people. We moved to Warner Robins, GA, where my parents became the managers of a small motel chain called the Admiral Benbow Inn. It was a unique experiencing living in an apartment on the property, just behind the front desk. This was a roadside motel with rooms that you could drive up to. It is everything you're imagining right now. My Mom, Dad, Brother, and I all worked together at that little motel. I cut grass, helped in housekeeping, and would occasionally be found skipping out of my chores to go to the pool on the property. It was a unique life for sure.
 
What was even more unique was the fact that I would move 11 more times before I landed in Melbourne, FL. From the ages of 9 - 28, I lived in 6 states and 14 different addresses. To say that I was used to moving around the country, would be an understatement. The longest I've lived in one area was in that little trailer in Flowery Branch, GA. Most of the moves were pretty easy, emotionally. School years were broken up in a good way where I was able to spend all my high school years at one school in Cassopolis, MI. One move that was not too easy was the move from Indiana to Virginia in 2007, but that's another devotional.
 
The move that I struggled with the most was in 2011. In 2011 Mary and I lived in a 2-bedroom condominium in Virginia Beach just across the courtyard from my parents. Even when I moved out of my parent's house, I still lived across the street. In 2011 I was offered my first long-distance transfer with the company I admired. There was a new management contract in Clarksville, IN for a Candlewood Suites and I was selected to run the hotel. I spent a month in Clarksville, while Mary stayed home with our one-year-old son, Augustus, and was about 3 months pregnant with Ellie. I returned to VA Beach and loaded the 16' U-Haul in late October. On October 30th, 2011 I kissed my mom and hugged my dad goodbye. The first time I would live out of state from my family. As soon as I got in the truck and headed out of the neighborhood, I began to cry. The emotions of that move flooded over me as I thought about leaving my family behind and heading off into this new adventure. That new adventure provided a few bumps along the way, but overall was a blessing to my career and it eventually led to my transfer to Melbourne, FL.
 
I've been thinking about the emotions of moving for the past few days as I began my "lasts" here at Suntree. I attended my last meetings. I recorded my last sermon. I'm writing my last E-Letter. During our staff meeting on Monday as we celebrated this new adventure, I was asked if "it had hit me yet." Has the idea of leaving Melbourne sank in yet? I don't think it has. There are too many things on my to-do list. My mind is reeling from everything that needs to be packed, cleaned, and repaired before we leave. But, it occurred to me that when I load the last few pieces into my truck, I sign over the keys to our rental home, and I pull out of the neighborhood...that's when it will hit me. I'm leaving my family again. Leaving the people I love dearly. People who have been supportive and helped my family to grow. I'm sure the tears will flow and I will thank God for all of you inside of that mixture of grief and joy.
 
Moving isn't new to me. Leaving you all, that's a new experience. This begins a new season and the scriptures in chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes are a great way to reflect on the many seasons of our lives. This is a new season for both SUMC and the Allen Family. I know that God is in this season, as God has been in every season before. It doesn't take away from the emotions of it all. It only provides comfort that God is with us at this time. I'll be honest, if it wasn't for that faith in our God who goes through the mess with us, I'm not sure what this last 6 months would have looked like, let alone the last seven years we've been in Melbourne. I know this: we have been loved, supported, challenged, and encouraged by you all. You have given us more than we could ever repay, and that's grace. We thank God for grace.
 
This wasn't the way we wanted to end our time here. This extrovert is struggling with "social distancing," even though I respect and value the very important work of it. It makes this already difficult time, just a bit harder. But I take hope that God continues to provide in even the most unique ways, like a drive-by goodbye. I'm excited to get to see your faces one last time as you cruise through the parking lot on Sunday night, between 5-6pm. I pray that you are encouraged by the work we have done together and that you have the opportunity to hear my last message this Sunday as I reflected on that work. I pray for Suntree UMC and I thank God for every one of you.
 
I can't imagine what that final drive out of Melbourne will look like a short two weeks from now. But I know there will be tears, smiles, laughter, and fond memories.
We love you. Thank you. We are encouraged by you.
 
Gratefully yours,
Augie - Mary - Augustus - Ellie - Katie - Will
#allenpartyof6
 
P.S. I asked for Augustus' input on this E-Letter, and he simply said to tell you "I'm going to miss everyone." Honest words from a nine-year-old.
Posted by Augie Allen with

Pastor E-Letter 5/22/20

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In May of 2015, I graduated from Indiana University with my bachelor's degree. To be honest, I graduated from Indiana University South East in New Albany, IN not the Bloomington Campus. Either way, I get to say I graduated from Indiana University and have claimed to be a Hoosier for life. I thought with the degree they would officially give me the backstory to what a Hoosier is, and they didn't. Mary who lived in South Bend, IN for 20 years doesn't have the official story. So I still don't know what it is.
 
What I can tell you is how much I loved going to IU schools. I attended the South Bend, IN campus first and that is where I met Mary when we were in the theatre department together. I have a lot of pride in IU and the work that they do between their MBA program and amazing teaching hospital in Indianapolis. I have spent time at IU Hospital in downtown Indy with my family over the years as they received care. IU Hospital has an amazing heart center and cancer research team. The care that my family has received has been so loving and full of amazing work by the people there. It is a teaching hospital and they have plenty of wonderful students learning from this great team.
 
What struck me as I walked through the main entrance one day were these pictures at the main entrance:
 


You see, IU Hospital in Indianapolis is the IU Methodist Hospital. Founded 121 years ago to serve the sick, wounded and injured. I was awestruck how many people would pass through this metro-downtown hospital and read these words from John Wesley, known as "John Wesley's Rule." How many people have been served, and cared for in the name of God by the people known as Methodist?
 
I was talking to Annette this week about UM Hospitals and we talked about Emory Hospital in Atlanta, another Methodist hospital. Emory was at the front of the line in caring for Ebola patients and developing a vaccine for that outbreak and today they are working diligently to research and develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. The Methodist church has a long history of showing up when there are people in need. This work is no stranger to Suntree UMC people. During hurricane season we are known for handing out coolers of ice and helping our neighbor. We fill trucks and buckets and send them to disaster areas all over the country. Suntree UMC seeks to live into our mission statement of "Loving Our Neighbors in Extraordinary ways".

The question for us now is how do we live into the heritage of being Methodist people? Wesley was clear about doing good. Wesley did not count acts of service as more important than faith, however, he claimed that it is because of our faith we will be compelled to care for the poor, the sick, the needy. We would do it by this rule "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
 
Some have begun that work in our community:
We have partnered with Daily Bread, The Evans Center, Interfaith Alliance of Brevard, and others to help during this extraordinary time. There are many ways to serve in accordance with your comfort level and ability. All sites that we have partnered with take social distancing very seriously and seek to make sure our volunteers are safe and well cared for while also respecting the dignity and need of our neighbors.
 
While we understand that there is a real concern for many to not engage any "in-person" activities, even with social distancing measures, there is still a great need for supplies and supplemental food. We care for you deeply and want you to be safe. We also want you to know that there are ways for you to support our partners during this time. Our foster parents still need diapers and wipes. Daily Bread needs supplies for the hygiene program that provides clean undergarments and socks. The food programs in the area need supplemental food. And all our partners need financial support.

One thing I'd like to keep at the front of our minds: this is not a one-time need. We will continue to engage our partners as the lasting effects of this virus will be felt for a long time. The financial stability of so many families will continue to struggle and many who have little to no savings will find themselves in a serious financial crisis in the coming months. We will continue to engage the needs of our neighbors and we hope you will join us.
 
How can we live into this amazing heritage of the people known as Methodists? How can we live into the heritage of Suntree UMC that loves their neighbors in extraordinary ways? I hope you'll ask that question with me and I hope we can find ways for you to engage the many layers of the needs in our community. No matter your abilities, we have all been blessed by God and because of that, we seek to do all the good that we can, as much as we can, to as many people as we can, for as long as we can.
 
With Grace & Peace on this journey together,
 
Augie
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