It is mid-August as I write this, but the signs of September are everywhere: school buses practicing their routes, stores in full “Back-to-School Sale” mode, college-bound students packing suitcases and trunks, and the temperatures at night cooler and dry.
September always brings a feeling of renewal that is as refreshing as an autumn breeze. With September comes a new year in Sunday School, the return of the choirs, the switch back to worship at 8:30 and 11:00, and all the activities that keep our building humming. I enjoy the slightly slower pace of Summer, but I miss the activity and the liveliness of Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Things don’t stop in Summer, of course, and many Ministry Teams were hard at work even on the steamiest days. We are still searching for a new director for our Early Learning Center to succeed Linda Lindamood. The ELC Board has been working diligently and faithfully to discern whom God has chosen for the position. We hope to have a candidate by mid-Fall, but we also know that we are working on God’s schedule, not our own.
It’s almost impossible not to see the results of the never-ending work our Property Ministry Team does all year-round maintaining our property: a new parking lot in front (I love the speed bump!), fresh paint on the cross on the steeple, and freshly painted offices, just to point out the more obvious changes.
Our Finance Ministry Team also had a busy summer working with the accounting firm we hired last spring to help us review our finances and provide better reporting not only for our Session, but for the whole congregation. Lisa Faust, our Financial Administrator, has been a wonderful addition to our staff as she updates reports, systems, and how we manage our finances. The accounting firm will provide a detailed report and presentation to our Session in October.
Perhaps the Ministry Team that was busiest over the Summer was Stewardship, which has been planning for what is sure to be an exciting Fall Stewardship campaign. The Team didn’t even wait for Labor Day to get started, meeting with the Elders and Deacons over lunch in early August to share their ideas and sign up volunteers. If you are asked to be a “Station Agent” or a “Trail Boss”, say “yes”!
The Stewardship Ministry Team conducted two “Focus Groups” at the beginning of the summer to learn how we can do a better job with our Stewardship campaign. One of the things we learned is that we need to do a better job communicating information about our Ministry Teams. So, beginning in mid-September, every Ministry Team will have a Sunday to participate in worship leadership and share with all of us how they serve God and our church through their work.
God is always at work in us and through us, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, renewing us, transforming us, and guiding us, as follow our Lord Jesus Christ. The page on the calendar turns to a new month, but God’s abiding presence remains constant, God’s love for us unwavering. That’s reason to celebrate all year round.
See you on Genesis Sunday!
Pastor Skip
