I find both of these comments interesting. First of all, you may think that I have more energy, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way to me As to the sermons, well the only thing I can think of is that I have to preach without a microphone at Falls Mills and this means that I must get into the sermon with more energy that normal.

   Thanks for the rumors. I will ponder what they seem to be saying.

     This whole Consecration Sunday campaign has got me to thinking. (see previous post) The topic of stewardship has moved from a back burner in my mind to a front burner. As a result, I have already begun making plans for more emphasis on stewardship in 2008.

During January, I will be forming a small group that will meet for 30 days during the season of Lent to read and discuss the book Holy Smoke–Whatever Happened to Tithing. This book examines tithing from a Wesleyan perspective. Once the 30 day study is complete, the participants will be asked to continue on for another 10 weeks of study. The goal is to help persons become aware of giving and the role that it plays in their lives.

    Ideally, lives will be changed by this study and it will be offered again in the fall for a new group of persons to take. If lives and attitudes continue to be changed, the goal will be to offer this course twice a year to new groups of people. Within a few years, all of the congregation will have been given an opportunity to participate in this small group learning activity.

    I will be picking 8-12 persons to be in the first small group. If you want to be one of those persons, then please contact me sometime by mid-January 2008. We also ask that the church be in prayer for this first small group and that the group might become a blessing for the church as it meets and learns.

   I hope, however, that the sermon this week will be a turning point for me. I have been doing some thinking and reading recently to prepare myself for this sermon. I believe that a new way of looking at the topic of stewardship is beginning to grow within me. I’ve already told the Administrative Board that they may be hearing more such talk from me in the year ahead. They said, “Go ahead and talk about it.” So pray for me as I prepare for this Sunday and as I begin to look at the year that lies ahead.

–From Letters from the Desertby Carlo Carretto

This passage got me to thinking about the training that the church provides to persons that are it’s elected leaders. In the past I have thought that training would be good, but also felt that I didn’t want to impose it upon members of the various church boards and committees. My mind has changed on this issue. I cannot assume that just because the Charge Conference elects a person to a leadership position that he or she has any knowledge as to what he or she is supposed to do. Using the quote above, it would be like putting them in the boat (giving them the job) but then not giving them the oars and asking them to steer the church in a certain direction. Sure they could put their hands in the water and try to painfully pull the boat along, but how much easier would their job be if I had given them the oars!

  As the new crop of leaders is announced, I will begin providing them with materials that will help them better understand what they have been called to do in their leadership role. For pastors that might be reading this blog, I encourage you to check out www.buildingchurchleaders.com I have used material from this site for years. However, I have never fully utilized the training capabilities of the material found on this site. I will be utilizing this material in the months that lie ahead.

   For my church members reading this blog. I want you know that I have new expectations of the leaders of the church. I expect them to show up and take an active role in their ministry area. I further expect them to take the time to learn what they have been called to do and will provide them with material to make this learning possible.

  I’d like to take a moment to thank some people for the work that they do for the Kingdom of God.

I’d like to start with Dave Parris. Since my arrival in 2005, Dave has been faithful in carrying out a number of ministries at the church. First of all, he has been the Chairperson of our Administrative Board. In this ministry he has guided the church through several decisions and provided leadership and direction for our church. Due to health reasons, he will be stepping down from this position in January of 2008. He also has been at work behind the scenes. He’s faithful for cooking at the United Methodist Men’s breakfast. He helps get the luncheon meats for Union Mission each month. He also makes trips to Sam’s and Lowe’s with Joe Johnson when things are needed at the church. In case I haven’t said it before, “Thank you for your loyal service.”

    Another thank you needs to go out to Joe Johnson. Joe is the head of our United Methodist Men and the Chairperson of the Building and Grounds Committee. As the head of the United Methodist Men, he makes sure that the monthly breakfast is prepared and keeps the group moving ahead with projects. As the Chairperson of Buildings and Grounds, he, along with helpers like Dave Parris, Jack Allen, Wally Rangeo and others, keeps the church and parsonage in good repair. He also is willing to help out in lots of different ways around the church. If you need something done, ask him and he’ll ry to get it done. Thanks, Joe for all your hard work at the church.

   That’s not all the folks that I need to thank, but it is a beginning. In the weeks ahead, I will add other people to the list of those that need to be thanked. I suggest that you also thank them for their ministry to the church. If you know of someone that you think should be included, then let me know and I’ll arrange to thank them for their work as well.

   When I think about this, I  to attracthave to wonder, “Why don’t these children and their families attend the church?” More importantly, what can the church do to attract families to our church. I think we need to get serious about how we are going to respond to the changes in the neighborhood surrounding our church. Many churches are not so blessed to have such a positive growing community right at their doorstep. We need to reach out and say hello. We need to invite and if necessary pick up and bring children and their parents to the church.

   On the last Sunday in October (28th) we will have a Halloween party at the church. Between now and then would be a good time for everyone to invite a family with children to come and have fun with us on this night.

• I’m too busy at work.
• I’m too busy with the kids.
• I’m too busy at home.
• I’m too busy taking care of family.
• I don’t have any gifts or talents.
• I don’t feel called to serve.
• Nobody has asked me to do what I want to do.
• Nobody has asked me to do anything.
• It takes too much time.
• The meeting time is not convenient with my schedule.
• The meetings are boring and a waste of my time.   

   I could go on, but, perhaps, you begin to get the picture. If I haven’t listed the excuse that you are most likely to use, then please feel free to share it with me. I write about all these things because it is time to begin selecting officers and leaders for the coming year. The Committee on Lay Leadership is the only committee that is chaired by the pastor. I intend to ask the members of the committee to cast their nets wider this year. The 20% have been faithful. It’s time for the 80% to get involved.

     So, if you are contacted by a member of the Committee, don’t just offer an excuse that’s been heard before. Seriously think about what you are being asked to do. We will be praying and making some serious decisions. Your name won’t be simply thrown into the pot for consideration unless we truly think that you have the spiritual gifts and graces to succeed in what we ask you to do. We are going to ask you to pray about our request and we are going to let you and God struggle with what is the correct response to offer back to the Committee.

    In the next few weeks, the invitations to service will be offered. I hope you will respond in a prayer filled manner to the request that might come your way. 

   That is what I like about the United Methodist connexion. Even though I am not present, there are generally others present: former pastors or pastors from nearby churches– that can step into the void and minister in my absence. It doesn’t alleviate the almost guilt like feelings that I have of not being able to be present, but it does comfort me to know that there is still a minister present that can minister effectively in my absence.

   I follow the lectionary for my sermon texts. The lectionary is based upon the liturgical seasons and in three years will takes me through the major themes of the Bible. Each week, there is an Old Testament, a Psalm, a New Testament, and a Gospel reading. The United Methodist Church publishes a book that ties songs from the hymnal with texts each week in the lectionary. So, I simply go to the book and see which songs from the list that are linked to the text are known by me and by the congregation.

   Sometimes, the songs I know are not songs known by the choir (They are my sounding board on this matter. Sometimes I listen to what they say, and sometimes I do not.) I might choose and unknown song because it goes well with the theme for that particular Sunday. I feel that stretching ourselves in song is something that is worthwhile. At other times, I will give in to the advice from the choir and change a song.

   In a nutshell, that’s how we get our songs on Sunday morning. The other way that we choose songs is Favorite Hymn Months (July and August). During June you are given the chance to vote on the hymns that you would like to sing. During those months all of the selections come from you votes.