The Church Council met in December to set goals for the church for 2012.  We used the guidelines established by the Vital Congregations Initiative.  The areas identified by the VCI fall under these five areas:

1.       Disciples in Worship (average worship attendance)
2.       Disciples making new Disciples (Professions of Faith)
3.       Disciples growing in their faith (Number of small groups)
4.       Disciples engaged in mission (Number of members doing outreach in the community)
5.       Disciples sharing their resources for mission (Apportionments paid)

Our goals are as follows:

1.       Increase radical hospitality by training a welcoming team/congregation

Having name tags for everyone, new brochures at chamber of commerce, continue follow-up on visitors and inactives

2.       (this area goes with number 1, 3 and 4)

3.       Increase number of small groups that nurture growth in discipleship – such as, an adult Sunday School class for adults under 50 years of age; offer both short-term and long-term Disciple Bible Study; movie night with discussion; and others.  Offer a nursery at all classes.

4.       Continue and expand ministry with Neighborhood Kids, have food bags available at church along with a method for tracking help given, partner with other churches to support backpack ministry, maintain non-food products to give out, partner with a school, continue Faith Builders

5.       Conduct stewardship campaign, conduct capital funding campaign to reduce debt and begin mission ministries

After setting these goals I then had to input them into the Vital Congregations’ web site.  There I discovered two things:  first, they only wanted numbers and secondly, they have projected where our church will be by 2015 based on the numbers reported from 2007 to 2010.  The only one I remember is that we will have about 100 people in worship by then.  Our average attendance in 2010 was 137; in 2011 it was 138.  So we maintained there.  We also reported a loss of 17 in total membership in 2010.  But in 2011 we had a gain of 21 members – 14 by profession of faith (12 youth and 2 adults). 

Of course, Vital Congregations did not have the information for 2011, but we may not be in as bad of shape as they predict.  But we are seeing a decline in our attendance at worship.  Only you can help me understand why that is happening. 

It is with hope that I present these goals to you and it is with prayer that I ask each of you, the church, to help us meet these goals as you fulfill your covenant to support the church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness.

Thank you, Church!  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to attend the Perkins School of Youth Ministry training seminar and workshop for those people who are involved in working with youth.  It was an awesome experience!  We worshiped together, we ate together, we fellowshipped together, but most importantly we learned together.  There was A LOT of information given to us over the weekend.  I will be putting this information to work as soon as possible in this youth group and have lots of fun doing it!  It truly was very informative and very fun.  Thank you for allowing me to go.

The youth have planned a pizza/movie trip for this Saturday, January 21st.  We will be going to Poppa Rollo’s Pizza and afterward to see the movie “Joyful Noise” with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah.  It should be a good one!  I have heard some very good things about it.  We will leave the church parking lot no later than 4:45.  Come and join us!  The youth’s dinner will be paid for from the youth fund, but they will need to bring money for their ticket into the movie and any snacks they wish to purchase at the movie.  Any adults wishing to go are more than welcome to come along.  However, adults must pay for their own dinner, movie ticket and snacks.  Hope to see you then!

Remember, youth meetings on Wednesday evenings at 5:45 and Sr. High Sunday School on Sunday mornings at 10:00!   See you at either one or both!

We have entered the season after the Epiphany, also known as ordinary time.  We celebrated the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem and the Christ Child.  We celebrated the Baptism of Jesus and our own baptisms in Christ.  We will spend the next few Sundays looking at and for the ways God manifests/reveals/shows himself to us through Christ.  Some of you may wonder, “What’s the big deal about Epiphany and the season after?”  It certainly has never been that important for most of us, and it doesn’t get the same time or attention of Christmas or Easter; yet, Peter J. Gomes, when he was minister at The Memorial Church on the campus of Harvard University described Epiphany as “the most important season in the church’s year.”

The most important?  Really?  Well, I found an article from a Baylor University publication written by a Baptist preacher from Virginia, Michael Clingenpeel, who has seen the light when it comes to Epiphany.  I thought I would share some of what he had to say with you so that we could all have an epiphany about epiphany.

I was raised Southern Baptist, which is to say I grew up liturgically-challenged. We lit candles to depict progress toward the Lottie Moon Offering goal, processed down the aisle to place our pledge cards on the Communion table, and the closest we came to a creed was recitation of the church covenant from the back of the Baptist Hymnal. Christmas and Easter were big deals, as were Promotion Sunday, Pledge Day, and Thanksgiving. American culture and Nashville set our church calendar.

It was a healthy tradition in which I heard the call of God. It prepared me for a lifetime of ministry among Baptists in the South. Eventually, however, I came to learn that I swam head down in a narrow creek and never noticed flowing nearby a wide river whose headwaters started long ago and far away. This powerful river had channels both East and West, which in places merged and separated, and had overlooks called Advent, Epiphany, Lent, and Pentecost.  Along this river I encountered names like Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and Wesley. This river has borne me along. I am grateful. Now I know that Christmas does not end on the evening of December 25, that the Wise Men did not show up in Bethlehem within twenty-four hours of Jesus’ birth, and that God is made known to us wherever we are, here and now, as there and then.

 “Epiphany,” which means manifestation or showing forth, is the word for what happened at Bethlehem and in the weeks, months, and years following. It happens still. Epiphany, and the season after it, is important. To understand why, we turn to Epiphany’s roots. The feast of Epiphany was first celebrated in the fourth century. It recalls three events in which Jesus was made known: the manifestation of Jesus’ birth to the Magi, representing  the Gentiles (Matthew 2:1-12), the announcement of Jesus’ identity at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22), and Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine at the Cana wedding feast (John 2:1-11).

Epiphany entered the life of the Church in an age of great preaching.  On Epiphany in 412, Augustine delivered a sermon on the account, unique to Matthew, of the revelation of the birth of Jesus to the Magi and their subsequent journey to Bethlehem bearing gifts. He described Epiphany as a “noteworthy celebration…throughout the world.”  Sixteen hundred years later, Augustine’s sermon on the Magi reminds us of three Epiphany truths.

First, Epiphany helps us recall that our world is not bereft of God’s presence. God leaves hints and signs, a trail to be discovered by those who seek to pursue the Holy in the midst of life. The hint or sign, said Augustine, was a star: “For, on this day, the Magi are said to have adored the Lord, warned by the appearance of a star and led by its guidance. In fact, they saw the star in the East on the very day He was born and they realized whose birth it portended…. To the Lord Himself, then, they came, led by the star; they adored Him who had been thus pointed out to them.”

Our experience of God is not easy to discern. God has not chosen to lay out a media campaign designed to splash a brand, logo, tag line, and jingle across our world. For most, the call of God comes by nudge and whisper, not by shove and shout. Those who hear or see the Holy One tend to do so because they are seeking. The Magi saw the star because they scanned the night sky, questioning and discussing together what they saw. And they were ready to take the journey when they saw something of promise. God showed up and keeps showing up in our world in Jesus. The more we probe the life and work of Jesus, ponder his words and practice his deeds, the more likely we are to experience the depth and breadth of God’s character.

Second, Epiphany is a reminder that the gospel is for everyone, not just a few. For Augustine, the central truth of Epiphany was that Jesus was manifest to the Gentiles. Jesus is Lord of all, not just a few. Peter Gomes likened Epiphany to a stone dropped into water that sets off a series of bigger and bigger ripples.  Epiphany keeps before us the truth that Jesus is for Magi in the courts of the mighty as well as shepherds in the fields, East as well as West, global as well as local, universal as well as sectarian.

Third, Epiphany reinforces that meeting Jesus leaves us altered, different persons. Augustine concluded his Epiphany day sermon by reminding his listeners that the Magi did not return to their homes by the same road they traveled to Palestine: “For this is why the Magi did not return as they had come. The way was changed; their way of life was changed.”

During Epiphany we discover that paying homage to Jesus in the manger leaves us different. We cannot return to the same place, to do the same things in the same way. Augustine learned, as did Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Peter, and Paul before him, and as you and I after him, that an encounter with God leaves us altered. Christmas is the season when we celebrate that God took the risk to enter human history, with all its limitations, in the baby named Jesus.  Epiphany is its logical successor, the season in which week-by-week we grow in our awareness that Jesus is revealed to the whole world (the story of the Magi), that Jesus is uniquely related to God (the baptism of Jesus), and that Jesus came to accomplish a remarkable work (the miracle at Cana). It is, as Augustine said long ago, a feast worthy of devout celebration.

Hope to see you in this most important season of the year! 

Pastor Donna

Do you ever feel like you are between a rock and a hard place?  I do; especially when it comes to being a pastor and serving a church.  On the one hand, I attend Central Texas Conference sponsored seminars and workshops that teach:  success cannot be measured by how many people are in the pews on Sunday but rather by how the church is faithfully living the gospel of Jesus. On the other hand, I am told we must set measurable goals for the church and success in achieving the goals will be determined, in part, by how many people are sitting in the pews on Sunday morning.  You see what I’m talking about.

Of course the leadership of this church is also concerned about the number of people who attend worship on a regular basis - in part, because it affects our income and thus our ability to pay our bills (including electricity, gas/propane, Sunday school materials, salaries, etc.).  We have seen a decline in attendance over the past few months and that is a concern; my concern is for those who are choosing not to worship.

So I have two articles in front of me right now; one is entitled “50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance;” the other one, written by Tim Suttle, is entitled, “How to Shrink Your Church.”  I find much to like in the second article and maybe it explains why our attendance has been shrinking over the past few months.  I want to share most of it with you now because it really reflects my understanding of what church is about.

“Pastors and churches spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year attending conferences, buying books, hiring consultants, advertisers and marketers, all to try and accomplish one thing: to increase attendance — to be a bigger church.

I’m absolutely convinced this is the wrong tack.

Success is a slippery subject when it comes to the Church. That our ultimate picture of success is a crucified Messiah means any conversation about success will be incompatible with a “bigger is better” mentality. Yet, bigger and better is exactly what most churches seem to be pursuing these days: a pursuit which typically comes in the form of sentimentality and pragmatism.

Sentimentality and pragmatism are the one-two punch which has the American Church on the ropes, while a generation of church leaders acquiesces to the demands of our consumer culture. The demands are simple: tell me something that will make me feel better (sentimentality for the churchgoer), and tell me something that will work (pragmatism for the church leader). Yet it is not clear how either one of those are part of what it means to be the church.

Instead of pursuing faithfulness the sentimental church must provide a place where people can come to hear a comforting message from an effusive pastor spouting fervent one-liners which are intended only to make us feel good about the decisions we’ve already made with our lives. If our beliefs aren’t actually, really true then at least we can have a Hallmark moment, right? Above all the sentimental church must never teach us that in the kingdom of God, up is down, in is out, and nothing short of dying to ourselves and each other can help us truly live.

Perhaps more than sentimentality, pragmatism is ravaging the church. Pragmatism has led to a fairly new niche industry I call the Church Leadership Culture. Taking their cues from business, church leadership manuals are more than willing to instruct the interested pastor in how to gain market share. I once heard church consultant and leadership guru Don Cousins say that you can grow a church without God if you have good preaching, great music, killer children’s ministry, and an engaging youth minister. Cousins should know. He helped build Willow Creek Community Church and the church leadership culture. In the pragmatic church, there is only one question that matters, “What will work to grow my church?”

The fundamental problem with the one-two punch of sentimentality and pragmatism is, of course, the church’s job is not to affirm people’s lives, but to allow the gospel to continually call our lives into question. The church’s job is not to grow — not even to survive. The church’s job is to die — continually — on behalf of the world, believing that with every death there is a resurrection. God’s part is to grow whatever God wishes to grow. Growing a church isn’t hard … being faithful as the church, that’s a different story.

I’m the pastor of a church called Redemption Church in Olathe, KS.  When we decided to reject sentimentality and pragmatism and chase faithfulness instead we really began to grow … smaller that is. I don’t know for sure because we no longer count, but my best guess is that we have decreased by more than half. If pressed about my church’s growth strategy, I usually say it is to get smaller and die; to continually decrease the amount of time, resources and energy we spend trying to have the ultimate church experience, and to spend more time actually being faithful. Nowadays, faithfulness — not success — is our only metric. Success is about “doing.” Faithfulness is about “being,” and it’s really hard to measure.

Convincing the church she does not exist for the benefit of her members, but for the life of the world is a bad church growth strategy. It’s also exactly what the church must do. It’s a tough sell because crucifixion seems like a losing strategy unless you believe in the resurrection. Faithfulness seems like a losing strategy unless you believe that the power of the gospel trumps our ability to come up with all the right answers to all the right questions.

So, God save us from the successful church. Give us churches who shun sentimentality and pragmatism and aren’t afraid to face the inevitable shrinkage which comes as a result of following Jesus. God save us from church leadership strategies. After all, it takes zero faith to follow a strategy, but incredible faith to pursue the kingdom of God and leave the rest in God’s hands. If I’ve learned anything as a pastor, it is this: faithfulness flies in the face of sentimentality and pragmatism, and if you pursue it you have to expect small numbers.”

Personally, I want us to be a faithful church more than I want us to be a “successful” church.  Certainly, I want our worship attendance to grow - so that more people can be sent out to be the church - faithfully living as disciples of Jesus.  Certainly, I want our financial giving to increase, so that we can do more ministry in the name of Jesus.  I hope each of you will come and give so that we can continue to live God’s vision for the church.

Well, Christmas really isn’t over until January 5, the 12^th day of Christmas, and then we enter the season of Epiphany, which means manifestation or appearance, and is when we celebrate the visit of the Magi or Kings or Wise Ones to the Christ Child.  So what do we do when Christmas is over?  Several years ago I discovered a songbook called, Everflowing Streams, Songs for Worship, and in it is a song called”I Am the Light of the World,” which gives us an idea of what to do when Christmas is over.  I share the verses and refrain of that song with you:

Refrain:  I am the light of the world!  You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the magi and the shepherds have found their way home,
The work of Christmas is begun:

To find the lost and lonely one, to heal the broken soul with love,
To feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
To feel the earth below, the sky above!

To free the prisoner from all chains, to make the powerful care,
To rebuild the nations with strength and good will,
To see God’s children everywhere!

To bring hope to every task you do, to dance at a baby’s birth,
To make music in an old person’s heart,
And sing to the colors of the earth!

Perhaps as we enter the New Year one of our new year’s resolutions could be to live Christmas each and every day – to do the “work of Christmas.”  After all, Christmas is about God becoming flesh and dwelling with us.  We are called to incarnate the Christ in our lives not just at Christmas but each and every day of our lives.  Impossible, you say?  Not really.  I share this anonymous poem with you in closing:

I Saw Jesus

I saw Jesus last week.
He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.
He was up at the church building;
He was alone and working hard.
For just a minute he looked a little like one of our church members.
But it was Jesus; I could tell by his smile.

I saw Jesus last Sunday.
He was teaching a Bible class.
He didn’t talk real loud or use long words,
But you could tell he believed what he said.
For just a minute, he looked like my Sunday school teacher.
But it was Jesus; I could tell by his loving voice.

I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick.
They prayed together quietly.
For just a minute he looked liked our pastor.
But it was Jesus; I could tell by the tears in his eyes.

I saw Jesus this morning.
He was in my kitchen making my breakfast.
He then fixed me a special lunch to take with me.
For just a minute he looked like my mom.
But it was Jesus; I could feel the love from his heart.

I saw Jesus today.
He was praying on his knees, all alone.
He then began to cry for those he prayed for.
For just a minute he looked like a lady from our church.
But it was Jesus; I could see the compassion poured out of his prayer.

I saw Jesus the other day.
He was at the grocery store talking to friends.
He then put his arms around them to comfort them.
For just a minute he looked like a young mother in our ladies class.
But it was Jesus; I could see the concern for others who hurt.

I see Jesus everywhere,
Taking food to the sick,
Welcoming others to his home,
Being friendly to the newcomer
And just for a minute I think he’s someone I know.
But it’s always Jesus; I can tell by the way he serves.

Happy New Year!
Pastor Donna

Seen any burning bushes lately?  Neither have I.  But, still, I keep looking for God in the spectacular and out-of-the-ordinary anyway.  However, seeking God in the miraculous, I fear I often miss God’s presence in the ordinary, in the every day of life, a presence to whom I can both offer and receive care, comfort, love.

Perhaps some of you, too, tend to seek God in spectacular, “mountain top” experiences.  I wonder though, how many times we have missed God’s presence among us, not in mysterious happenings but in the ordinary — in the stranger who shows up in class one day; in the lonely person at “Happy Hour,” in the person who gives a gentle hug, even in the person who seems like a thorn in our flesh.

At Christmas, God came to us as a helpless baby born in a stable in small village to poor parents.  Yes, there was a star that some saw and followed, but most people missed not only the star, but the presence of God in a fragile, ordinary infant.  Let’s keep looking for God in the common, ordinary, every day of life; I have a feeling we will see and hear Him if we eyes to see and ears to hear.

God Bless and Merry Christmas,

Pastor Donna

THANK YOU to all of the youth and parents and everyone else here at FUMC who have helped us in adopting a wonderful family for Christmas.  I think this is a wonderful thing to do and teaches us so much about the importance of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. 

The journey that we walk in our daily lives teaches us many things if we are only willing to open our eyes and ears to see and hear what God is teaching us about ourselves and others.  I think summer mission trips do the same thing.  We have received information regarding the CTCYM summer mission trips for the senior high and junior high.  Please consider participating in this wonderful opportunity to consider helping those who need it the most.  We must have an estimate into the conference office with our group registration form by December 29th which is fast approaching.  Please be advised this is only an estimate!  We do not have to have an exact number of those going at this point.  They only want an estimate of how many we think might be going.  You may register later in the year.

Beginning on Wednesday, January 4th at 5:45 in the evening, the youth will begin meeting for group.  The meetings will last until around 6:30 so that I may continue my commitment to the choir.  Something is desperately needed to gain more attendance and participation at these youth meetings.  I hope you are willing to try this new meeting time with us!  Parents, please have your youth there on Wednesday evening!  They are needed!  We will discuss possible outings for the coming year.  Please join us!   

See ya Wednesday,   Nanette

Here is a little something I’d like to share… (This was taken from the book “Cloth for the Cradle” by the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group.)

Among the poor,

Among the proud,

Among the persecuted,

Among the privileged,

Christ is coming.

Christ is coming to make all things new.

In the private house,

In the marketplace,

In the wedding feast,

In the judgment hall,

Christ is coming,

Christ is coming to make all things new.

With a gentle touch,

With an angry word,

With a clear conscience,

With burning love,

Christ is coming,

Christ is coming to make all things new.

That the kingdom might come,

That the world might believe,

That the powerful might stumble,

That the humble might be raised,

Christ is coming,
Christ is coming to make all things new.

Within us,
Without us,
Among us,
Before us,
In this place,
In every place,
For this time,
For all time,
Christ is coming,

Christ is coming to make all things new.

 Pastor Donna

Sunday, December 11 was a day to remember at First Methodist with the Chancel Choir presenting its annual Christmas Cantata entitled “Shout the Good News” at the 11:00 service and the Christmas Extravaganza presented by a cast of at least dozens at 6:00 pm. The Cantata music seemed to be especially meaningful this year as the Christmas story that never grows old was narrated and set to music in a great fashion. All who attended were truly blessed.

The Extravaganza was presented in two parts with the children of W.A.M. singing and speaking various parts (as only children can) a program called “A Capital Christmas”. Part two was a program called “Voice of Bethlehem” presented by a number of adult volunteers with music by the Living Proof praise band and the Glory Bells bell choir.

Following the evening events, everyone adjourned to the Birthday for Jesus celebration in the Family Life Center.

:              

The following in an excerpt from the book, Illuminate: An Advent Experience, which I have been reading as I journey on the road to Bethlehem preparing for Christmas.  It is part of a devotional based on Mark 1: 1-8.

Instead of having angels, shepherds, or wise men prepare us for Christmas, the gospel of Mark gives us a weather—beaten prophet wearing camel-hair clothes and a leather belt.  This desert prophet, known as John the Baptizer, is the first person Mark wants us to meet as he gets ready to tell us the good news.  Mark spends no time at all on the stories of the first Christmas.  There is simply this announcement:  “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  The rugged baptizing preacher is the messenger, and his message is about Christ, the embodiment of this good news.  Jesus is the Son of God, and the story that unfolds is his story.

Mark does not get to Jesus right away because he wants us to pay attention to John’s preaching.  Standing knee deep in the turbid waters of the Jordan River, John calls out to the crowds gathered on its banks, “Get ready!  Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”  John’s message is an urgent call to make our relationship with God our first priority.  We are to do this by confessing our sing and turning in repentance toward God so that we are ready when the Messiah shows up.  We need to be listening.  The prophetic word asks us to abandon our frantic holiday preparations – the gift-buying frenzy at malls and department stores and other activities that so drain people during the days leading up to Christmas that the day itself finds them spiritually empty and emotionally spent.  Instead we are to listen to the voice crying in the wilderness.

As we take these next steps along the road toward Bethlehem, we stop long enough at the Jordan to hear from John the Baptist.  The scriptures that illuminate the mysteries of

Christmas urge us to find this place of confession and repentance.  As we stand there in the desert heat on the riverbank with the crowd, we are anxiously looking around for the One about whom John is talking.  Advent warns us that he is not only coming again but is indeed already among us.  Jesus   So we listen to this desert prophet, the Baptizer, the most unlikely of Christmas characters.  We get on with the business of straightening things up in our lives and rise from the waters of our baptism of repentance at peace with God – only to discover that the One who is coming is already here.

So, how are you getting ready for Christmas?  How is your journey to Bethlehem going?

See you Sunday

Pastor Donna