This Sunday we recognize and celebrate our High School graduating seniors, Jeni Peterson and Sydnie Hooper. I look forward to standing with them and our scholarship committee and awarding them a church scholarship for their studies beyond high school. Joined by their families, we will have a lunch after worship in their honor.
This Sunday is also the first Sunday with Jimmy Robertson who returns this summer as our youth director. Stephen Gehrings also joins us as our summer pastoral intern. Please be in prayer for both of these young men as they lead and learn about ministry here in Woodville. Stephen and I will be attending an orientation for that internship on Thursday and Friday of this week in Galveston.
Church life experiences seasons just as we do in other parts of life. Worship Attendance fluctuates through the year, giving fluctuates through the year and so forth. Summer is one of those seasons. Children are out of school, family vacations are planned, summer camps are attended, and long weekends are enjoyed. Routines and habits are more fluid during the summer. I mention all of this to say that I hope for your walk with Christ that you will do two things this summer: When you are in town, make a commitment to be in worship and make a commitment to fulfill your giving to the ministries of the church. Our summer ministries like Vacation Bible School, Bible studies and youth ministries will be as strong as ever and in some ways more active. I have found that summer time often allows for more time, not less, to devote to the Lord. When you see Bible studies and fellowship opportunities advertised and announced, take advantage of them; your life will be blessed because of it and you will be a blessing to somebody else.
Thank you for your faithfulness in every way to the ministry of the church. The doors of the church opened, lives transformed, calls to ministry are heard by people because of the gifts you give and the time you spend with God in your church family.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Church Conference Date Set!
It’s with excitement that I share that our church leaders have scheduled a May 31st Church Conference to have the final vote on our building plans. Our plan is for that church conference to take place after worship on that Sunday. Sunday May 31st, is Pentecost Sunday, the day when God gave the church the Holy Spirit. That Sunday we will also have our annual MusicFest which will feature music from our Joyful Ringers, Chancel choir and others.
Most will remember that last July, a called Church Conference voted overwhelmingly to approve a preliminary building plan for a multi-purpose building to serve ministry needs for adults, youth and children. It would be built on the current site of the Youth Building. That is Phase One. Phase Two and Three include moving the church offices to the current fellowship hall, creating new bathrooms where the current fellowship hall kitchen is located, expanding the narthex and adding parking outside. Full members of the church will be voting on just Phase One at the May 31st Church Conference. Led by our District Superintendent, Dr Jerry Pennington or a pastor representing him, we will vote once on the following items:
1- A Final building plan
2- A Final cost estimate (from the best bid recommended by the Building Committee)
3- Financing Option (from the best option recommended by the Church Finance Committee)
On May 19th, our Building Committee will bring before the District Committee on Buildings, our final plans, the results of our very fruitful “Embrace our Heritage, Build our Future” Capital Stewardship Campaign, and our Financing Option. With their approval the May 31st Church Conference will be on schedule. On Thursday evening, May 28 we will have an open information session to answer any questions. Representatives from the Building and Finance Committees will be present. You will also receive information in the mail prior to this about the final proposal.
Thank you for the vision for ministry that you have already supported so strongly. Thank you for your generosity during our Campaign and of course new pledges and gifts are welcome. Thank you for your prayers as we move forward. I truly believe that this project will propel Woodville UMC even more into the future that God has in store for us. It will prepare us for even stronger ministry by creating space for persons to participate in God’s family here. Please make every effort to be in attendance on May 31st and be a part of this dynamic phase in the church’s history.
Most will remember that last July, a called Church Conference voted overwhelmingly to approve a preliminary building plan for a multi-purpose building to serve ministry needs for adults, youth and children. It would be built on the current site of the Youth Building. That is Phase One. Phase Two and Three include moving the church offices to the current fellowship hall, creating new bathrooms where the current fellowship hall kitchen is located, expanding the narthex and adding parking outside. Full members of the church will be voting on just Phase One at the May 31st Church Conference. Led by our District Superintendent, Dr Jerry Pennington or a pastor representing him, we will vote once on the following items:
1- A Final building plan
2- A Final cost estimate (from the best bid recommended by the Building Committee)
3- Financing Option (from the best option recommended by the Church Finance Committee)
On May 19th, our Building Committee will bring before the District Committee on Buildings, our final plans, the results of our very fruitful “Embrace our Heritage, Build our Future” Capital Stewardship Campaign, and our Financing Option. With their approval the May 31st Church Conference will be on schedule. On Thursday evening, May 28 we will have an open information session to answer any questions. Representatives from the Building and Finance Committees will be present. You will also receive information in the mail prior to this about the final proposal.
Thank you for the vision for ministry that you have already supported so strongly. Thank you for your generosity during our Campaign and of course new pledges and gifts are welcome. Thank you for your prayers as we move forward. I truly believe that this project will propel Woodville UMC even more into the future that God has in store for us. It will prepare us for even stronger ministry by creating space for persons to participate in God’s family here. Please make every effort to be in attendance on May 31st and be a part of this dynamic phase in the church’s history.
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