Wayne's Weekly Email #56
2009-07-20 09:53
Dear FUMC Family, I hope this email finds you well this morning. I have a very important announcement concerning our church’s possible interest in the Hunter Smith Building…..so please make sure you read that portion of the email. Here is what I will cover today: 1. This Sunday @ FUMC This Sunday we will wrap up our sermon series, “Becoming Deeply Committed Christians: Loving God with our Head, Heart, & Hands” by tying this all together. We will look at the story of Samuel’s call to ministry as told in I Samuel 3. You might remember that in that story God called Samuel to a life of Deep Commitment several times before he was willing to listen to this call. Of course, what is really important about that story is how similar our experience is to Samuel’s some times. You see, Samuel worshipped in a community of believers…..in fact, he lived in his house of worship. He was dedicated to doing good works with his life….in fact, at the very time God called him he was being trained in this life of mission. But still, Samuel missed God’s call several times? How can this be…….How is it we could love God with our head, hearts, and hands…..and still not truly be living the life of deep commitment? Join us this Sunday and find out! 2. FUMC to Host 2nd Harvest Food Bank July 24 We want to remind you that we will be hosting the 2nd Harvest Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry again on Friday, July 24……and we need everyone to lend a hand. We anticipate our truck arriving at 9:30, so we are asking you arrive by 8:00 a.m. to help set-up and put boxes together. Also, we are asking that everyone bring bottled water this Sunday and leave it in the fellowship hall. We plan to have this for available for volunteers, as well as those waiting in line. This is a great way to get started using your heart and hands to love God…..so plan to be with us. You can sign up by emailing Callie Murrey or me. 3. Sunday School Gathering Sunday, July 26, to Honor Mariellyn Dunlap For the past two years we have been blest with the presence and participation of Mariellyn Dunlap here at our church. Mariellyn has been working through a program with the United Methodist Church that placed her for two years in the Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist College. Since Pulaski was to be her temporary home she sought out a local church to worship in. She chose us…..and Mariellyn has done so much more than simply worship here. She has actively participated in the life of our church. Not only has she been involved in many of our mission efforts…..she has been a part of our New Light Singers at our 8:15 worship service each Sunday. She has truly blessed us. Now we want to bless Mariellyn…..so we are calling on you to gather with us on Sunday morning, July 26, during the Sunday school hour as we fellowship with one another and bid farewell to Mariellyn. We ask that you simply bring your class and some finger food. We look forward to seeing you there…… 4. Called Church Conference Regarding Hunter Smith Building July 23 6 p.m. On Monday night the Finance Committee and Church Council met to discuss any possible interest the church might have in purchasing the Hunter Smith Building, which is located on the southwest corner of the square and will be auctioned off on July 30. The Long Range Planning Committee began studying the condition and possible uses of the building several months ago and they presented those findings on Monday night. The Long Range Planning Committee concluded that the building is structurally sound, insurable, and has the potential to answer some of our immediate space issues. They also reported that Martin Methodist College has proposed a long-term lease with us to provide space within the building for their bookstore. This would generate roughly $18,000 worth of revenue for the church. In the end the committee felt like the best use of the building would be: The Long Range Planning Committee did not recommend the purchase of this building…however, they did present it as a viable option. They shared with these committees their belief that our church needed to move forward and the purchase of the Hunter Smith Building or the beginning of a capital campaign for a new building was necessary. Both the Finance Committee and the Church Council voted to recommend we pursue the Hunter Smith Building to a Church Conference. This Church Conference will offer all church members the opportunity to voice their opinion on this subject and cast their vote. It will be held in the fellowship hall at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The recommendation is to pursue the HS Building at auction and, if purchased, totally renovate the building for use by the church. I sent you a letter on Tuesday morning announcing this Church Conference and all the details that go with it. I hope you will plan to attend. More than that, however, my hope is you will pray for our congregation. This is an important decision we face…..we need to call on the guidance of God. Regardless of which direction we ultimately choose to go in, we will go as one body. I trust that all of you will support your church regardless of the outcome of this decision. In the end, we are committed to Equipping People in Becoming Deeply Committed Christians. This is the most important thing for us as a church. We are not doing that, however, if we are allowing our own personal agendas to get in the way of our ultimate mission. So, I invite you to pray for our congregation as we move forward in the exciting times…..knowing regardless of the outcome of this decision that we are now a vibrant, growing church and we plan to continue this growth we are enjoying. That is it for this week. I look forward to seeing you in worship Sunday….. Wayne
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