Pastor's Corner - Cornerstone Newsletter
This article was submitted by Pastor Steve to the Cornerstone Newsletter for December.
We have entered the season of Advent. "Advent" derives from the Latin "adventus," which means "coming." This season proclaims the comings of the Christ - whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose surprising future comings we anticipate. I often feel out of sync with our culture and its shopping frenzy and "Ho, Ho, Ho's." Sometimes we seem to do our best to trivialize the most awesome, incredible, and mysterious notion - "Emmanuel," God with us. I invite you to wait, watch, look, and listen for the coming of God this season - for the birth of hope. Don't get lost in the frenzy.
We officially ended our pledge drive a couple of Sundays ago. A number of you have turned in generous pledges for 2009. However, I hope that we are not done. Many who pledged last year have yet to make a pledge this year. At this point our pledge commitments are way behind this year's commitments. Without more pledges we will be looking at significant cut backs in a ministry that is already very lean. If you intend to pledge in 2009 but have not gotten around to turning in the card yet, would you please do it as soon as possible? If you are feeling a little bit unsteady about the future right now, but intend to continue giving at about the same rate if at all possible, would you please let me or the Finance Team know? And finally, if you do not intend to make a 2009 pledge because of hardship or unhappiness with the church, I would welcome the chance to talk with you and provide whatever support I can.
Lately, I have been feeling thankful for the ways that I am seeing lives enriched and community built. We have welcomed new members, included many in small study groups, housed the homeless, fed the hungry, taught the children, provided a place to hang out for the teens, cared for the sick and dying, fellowshipped with each other, and served up a healthy diet of spiritual sustenance in two worship services each week. I want to thank each of you for the part you play in making CCUMC the rich and special spiritual community that it is.
Blessings,
Steve
