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The LamplighterFirst United Methodist Church of Hawthorne

21930 SE 67th PlaceHawthorne, FL 32640

(352) 481-3155Email: HawthorneFUMC@bellsouth.net

Website: hawthorneumc.weebly.comHawthorne First United Methodist Church

Stacey Spence, Pastor

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From the desk of…Pastor Stacey Spence

Imagine that you had won the Following *PRIZE* in a contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 In your private account for your use.

However, this prize has Rules:

The set of Rules:

1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.

3. You may only spend it.

4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that Day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time, it can say, “Game Over!" It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

Would you buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

Would you try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?

ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL... Shocked ??? YES, and we play it every day!

Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can't seem to see it.

THE MAGIC BANK ACCOUNT

THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN. IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD OF COACH PAUL BEAR BRYANT, ALABAMA,

AFTER HE DIED IN 1982

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Pastor Stacey Spence (Continued)

We have for many years helped people, who are in transit, members of our church and community in times of need. A

Pastors Discretionary Fund had been established to meet these needs. This Discretionary Fund is still in existence today. During Communion, if you are led, please leave an offering at the Altar.

This ongoing mission has been very uplifting to others over the years. Thank you.

The PRIZE is *TIME*

1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of Life.

2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is not credited to us.

3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.

4. Yesterday is forever gone.

5. Each morning the account is refilled, but your account can be closed at any time WITHOUT WARNING...

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than we think. So I encourage you today, to live hard, love hard and worship God even harder.

Take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

P.S. "DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD!" SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET THE PRIVILEGE!

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7/02 Paul Howland 7/06 Rod Dayton7/08 Robert Titus7/08 Vayda Bristow7/09 Benjamin Ferguson7/11 Jennifer Davis7/13 Leslie O’Dell7/18 Chester Hutchins, Jr.7/20 Ray Allen7/22 Andrew Dannenhoffer7/22 Jason Hutchins7/23 Kelli Hutchins7/24 Judy Collins7/27 Hannah Brown

8/01 Colby,Fahrney8/01 Chris4nJohnson8/02 BerniceBaker8/09 MaryWilson8/10 PatsyBertuccelli8/11 CarolCook8/11 MayaO’Dell8/11 MaChewSurrency8/13 PastorSpaceySpence8/15 PeterDannenhoffer8/21 CynthiaSchendel8/25 GlenHenderson8/26 RussellBrown8/31 TadMorgan

8/17Harold&LouiseLargen

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This n’ That

Pathways A Poem

Claimed by Amy Amdor

There are many many times when God has been my Savior. Ironically, a particular Bible quote that is for my birthday month, really covers everyone, but, of course I have taken it personally, which is Psalm 121:7-8. (7) The Lord shall preserve thee from evil; He shall preserve thy soul. (8) The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even more. It is so meaningful that each person can apply it to themselves. I don’t think anything else needs to be said only to thank God for forgiving each of us, no matter what we have done.

There are many things we must go throughAs we explore our lives to find what is our dueThere are trials and tribulations we must contendThere are joys and exaltations to extendThe various paths we walk may lead us many waysBut from these, we gain experience and wisdom that amazeThere are times we stumble and times we fallBut we must get up and continue and not drop the ballWe should go forward and not go backTry and keep up the good work and not lose trackIf we can always keep a little ahead of the gameThen when we pass from this life, there will be no shameProceed always with hope, laughter, love and not be cowedThen, of our lives we shall always be proud.

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The United Methodist Women Florida Conference “Mission u” will be held at Bethune-Cookman University July 13-16. See Ina Kay Morgan

for applications. Studies for 2017 are:

Spiritual Growth - Living as a Covenant Community

Geographic - Missionary Conferences pf the United Methodist Church in the United States Social Action - Climate Justice

The Summer General Meeting for all United Methodist Men will be held Thursday, July 27th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Sharon Surrency will present the mission study on Climate Justice for our local unit on August 12th in the Fellowship Hall starting at 10:00am. We will take a short lunch break at noon. Local United Methodist Women members are asked to help by bringing sandwiches, salads and desserts for the luncheon. Women from all churches are invited to attend so invite your friends. We have not had a mission study for several years so please come to this. Mark your calendars ow so you won't forget to attend.

Our UMW sponsored mission trip toward at the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Depot at Sager-Brown, LA is August 20-25. Members of our church who are going are: Jane Box, Sharon Surrency, John & Mary Anne Smith and Diane & Larry Tilbury. Donations are gladly accepted to cover expenses. Participants have to pay for their room and board at the Depot and the cost of travel.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Faith — Hope — Love in Action

People have been so generous in their donations that we have had to stop taking in donations for a few weeks. We have no more space to put the items until we can go through them. We sincerely regret having to do this and we greatly appreciate the people who have come to her clear out the backlog. Clothing items must be inspected for dirty spots and needed repairs since we want items we put out for sale to be in good shape. Items must be sorted - summer, winter, child, teenager, adult, men, women, holiday, etc.

Since many clubs and groups do not meet during the summer you can run the risk of being bored. Come help us on Thursdays, 9am to noon. We can keep you busy.

Membership in Church Women United is open to all women from all churches. Women from about four area churches are currently members but we want to add more women from more churches to our membership.

We have a Church Women United meeting scheduled on August 4th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church. Please come and help us plan for the future of our Church Women United group in the Hawthorne area.

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Long Term Prayer Requests

Rod Dayton Deborah Tyson Heston Dunman Bernice Baker Carol Collar Terry Ayer Sherri Howland Shelli Franz Dennis Goodwin Freddie Whitehead Billy Blair Bob Foster Gail Peppers Mary Jordan & Family Judy Maggiore Vayda Bristow Mary Anne Gross Karsyn Helms Harold McBrayer Delores Gunn Michelle Gibson

The ladies Sewing Group will resume making their mission projects on Tuesday, July 25th, from 9:00am to 11:00am.

Please come and be a part of this worthwhile mission group.

Several people who are on the prayer chain have said they would like to receive the prayer requests electronically. Others prefer telephone communication. Please let Ina Kay know if you would be willing to send and/or receive the requests electronically. Ina Kay will continue to call the ones who prefer too be phoned.

Please remember to get permission from the individual for whom the prayer request is made before asking the request to be put on the prayer chain.

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‘Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

John Wesley

KARAOKE begins at our church Friday, July 7th from 6pm – 9pm in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Wes Coonce at 352-872-4301 if you

have questions. Come on out on Friday nights and sing your hearts out to the Lord as we make joyful music together.

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

KARAOKE

Vacation Bible School was attended by a small, but, enthusiastic group of children. Many thanks to Vacation Bible School director, Elizabeth Townsend for her excellent leadership and recruitment skills. A aught ‘THANK YOU” goes out to all the volunteers who helped.

Each year we have a mission project. This year we asked the children to bring non-perishable food for HARC (Hawthorne Area Resource Center) foo bank and money for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to be used for items

needed for UMCOR kits.

Though many of our church groups do not let in the summer, we continue to have Sunday School. We meet each Sunday for one hour starting at 9:30am. Classes are held for children and adults. You are invited to meet with us.

Between Sunday School and the Worship Service we meet in the Fellowship Hall for Betwixt-a gathering for refreshment an fellowship. Come join us.

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Adult Events: Coloring for Adults Age Group(s): Adult (19 and up), Seniors Date: Sundays 7/2 & 7/30 Start Time: 2:00 PM End Time: 3:15 PM Description: No artistic expertise required. When you are focused on creating you are giving your busy mind a rest. Supplies (oil pastels, spirograph, color pencils, paper, coloring pages, etc.) provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Hawthorne Book Club Age Group(s): Adult (19 and up), Seniors Date: 7/6/2017 Start Time: 5:30 PM End Time: 6:45 PM Description: Join the Hawthorne Book Club for fun, food, and lively discussions! All are welcome. Even if you haven't read this month's selection, join us to see if the book is to your liking! Check out our blog called Hawthorne Book club Activities. Yoga Stretch Age Group(s): Adult (19 and up), Seniors Date: Thursdays 7/13; 7/20; 7/27 Start Time: 5:55 PM End Time: 6:55 PM Description: Feel more confident in a stronger, more flexible body! Caroline Anaya , MS Certified: Ayurvedic Yoga – ancient practice YogaFit – Yoga for the fitness industry 200-hour Yoga Alliance 21 years’ experience teaching Yoga Photographing Childhood Age Group(s): Adult (19 and up), Seniors Date: 7/15/2017 Start Time: 2:00 PM End Time: 3:30 PM Description: Join photographer Shante' Thornton of Step317 Photography for top tips in family photography as well as a look at the most common mistakes that beginners make. Capture those moments and learn to love your camera! Visit the Step317 website.

Cooking from your Garden Age Group(s): Adult (19 and up), Teen (10-18) Date: 7/21/2017 Start Time: 3:00 PM End Time: 4:00 PM Description: Interested in learning to eat a little healthier and grow your own vegetables? Join us for this monthly hands-on cooking and container gardening program this summer at the library. Ages 10 - 110! S.H.I.N.E. on Medicare Age Group(s): Seniors Date: 7/27/2017 Start Time: 12:00 PM End Time: 2:00 PM Description: The Florida Department of Elder Affairs offer counseling that is unbiased, confidential and no cost, by trained SHINE Volunteer counselors. Please bring with you: Medicare Card and Social Security Card; A print-out of medications from pharmacy or bottles; Proof of annual household income to determine whether you qualify for extra help; MUST HAVE driver’s license or photo I.D.; Any letters from Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid which you may have received. Call the Elder Helpline for other times or other sites to make an appointment: 1-800-963-5337.

JULY EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY All ACLD Libraries will be closed on July 4th for the holiday.

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Teen Events: Battle Of The Books Meeting Age Group(s): Teen (12-18) Date: Wednesday 7/5; & Tuesdays 7/11; 7/18; 7/25 Start Time: 2:00 PM End Time: 2:45 PM Description: Teens meet once per week this summer at the library to discuss pre-selected books for the main competition held on July 29th at the main library.

TechSpace Date: 7/6/2017 Start Time: 3:00 PM End Time: 5:00 PM Description: Join us for this fun space filled with hands-on activities including OzoBots, Scratch for computer coding, LEGO Mindstorms, crafts, Q-BA-MAZE, Makey Makey and more! Ages 10-18. Capoeira of Gainesville Date: 7/27/2017 Start Time: 3:00 PM End Time: 4:00 PM Description: Develop a sense of self control and discipline with this traditional Brazilian Martial Arts program this summer at the Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Ages 10-18. Upcycle Craft: Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle Age Group(s): Elementary (5-11 years) Date: 7/12/2017 Start Time: 3:00 PM End Time: 4:00 PM Description: Turn trash into art this Summer at the Library. Learn about how we reduce, reuse, and recycle here in Alachua County. Mask Dance with Surapsari Date: 7/19/2017 Start Time: 4:30 PM End Time: 5:30 PM Description: Partake in the traditional Mask Dance presented by Surapsari this Summer at the Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. TechSpace Fun for Everyone Date: 7/20/2017 Start Time: 3:00 PM End Time: 5:00 PM Description: All ages can join in on the fun! Many hands-on activities including crafts, LEGOs, OzoBots, Q-BA-MAZE and more! Summer at the Library with Puppets Age Group(s): Elementary (5-11 years), All Ages Date: 7/26/2017 Start Time: 3:30 PM End Time: 4:45 PM Description: Discover puppet history, create your own puppet and put on a show! A summer at the library event.

We owed a debt we could not pay, but Jesus paid the debt He did not owe.

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The theme this year was “Revive Us Again” and Bishop Carter led the Conference in ways to rekindle our spirits and our Church life and work. The highlights of the Conference are noted below:

• The Conference was reduced from 9 Districts to 8 thus creating a newly organized Gulf Central District.

• !7 local Churches were approved for closure while at the same time there are 80 new Fresh Expressions of ministry around the Conference

• Many were ordained and commissioned as Provisional Elders and Deacons and Elders and Deacons in full connection. Our own Pastor, Stacey Spence, was commissioned as a Provisional Elder.

• Constitutional Amendments form General Conference were voted on and approved. • Resolutions regarding prison reform and support for those oppressed due to race were

approved. • Our local Church was one of the many recognized for paying 100% of our apportionments. • The Bishop’s Offering was collected for special mission efforts in Haiti and Cuba as well as

helping newly ordained clergy with school loans. It was a privilege to represent you at Annual Conference 2017! Please let me know if you have any questions or need any documentation. Sharon Surrency

ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT

National Ice Cream Day National Ice Cream Day is dedicated to appreciating ice cream. In 1984,

Senator Walter Dee Huddleston of Kentucky initiated a joint resolution to declare July as the National Ice Cream Month and July 15 as National Ice Cream Day.

On July 9, 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July 1984 as the National Ice Cream Month and July 15, 1984 as the National Ice

Cream Day. This holiday is now celebrated on the third Sunday of July.

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the origins of ice cream date back to the second century B.C., when several prominent historical figures such as Alexander the Great, King Solomon and Nero Claudius Caesar enjoyed consuming iced beverages and snow. As the centuries passed, the snow and ice was refined into cream ice and eventually, in 1777, ice cream was first advertised in New York. However, ice cream was a rare delicacy for the elite until 1800s when ice houses were built. Since then, it has become a staple dessert for the American people.

For more information go to: http://www.wincalendar.com/Ice-Cream-Day and http://www.idfa.org/news-views/media-kits/ice-cream/the-history-of-ice-cream

YUM! YUM!

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

8:30am-2pm UMW Thrift Shop Open 9am-10am FUMC Community Garden Workday

2 COMMUNION 9:30am SS Classes 10:50 Praise & Worship Service 6PM Bible Study-FH

3 HARC CLOSED

4

HARC & CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

5

6 9am-Noon UMW Thrift Shop-Workkay

7 2pm Women’s Prayer Group-Chapel 6pm-9pm Make a Joyful Noise Karaoke-FH

8 8:30am-2pm UMW Thrift Shop Open 9am-10am FUMC Community Garden Workday

9 9:30am SS Classes 10:50 Praise & Worship Services Fellowship Dinner after AM Service 6PM Bible Study-FH

10

11

12

13 9am-Noon UMW Thrift Shop-Workkay

14 2pm Women’s Prayer Group-Chapel 6pm-9pm Make a Joyful Noise Karaoke-FH

15 8:30am-2pm UMW Thrift Shop Open 9am-10am FUMC Community Garden Workday

16 9:30am SS Classes 10:50 Praise & Worship Services 6PM Bible Study-FH

17

18

19

20 9am-Noon UMW Thrift Shop-Workkay 6Pm Trustees-FH

21 2pm Women’s Prayer Group-Chapel 6pm-9pm Make a Joyful Noise Karaoke-FH

22 8:30am-2pm UMW Thrift Shop Open 9am-10am FUMC Community Garden Workday

23 9:30am SS Classes 10:50 Praise & Worship Services 6PM Bible Study-FH

24

25 9am-11am Sewing Croup-Educ Bldg

26

27 9am-Noon UMW Thrift Shop-Workkay 6:30pm UMW Summer Genetal Meeting-FH

28 2pm Women’s Prayer Group-Chapel 6pm-9pm Make a Joyful Noise Karaoke-FH

29 8:30am-2pm UMW Thrift Shop Open 9am-10am FUMC Community Garden Workday

30 9:30am SS Classes 10:50 Praise & Worship Services 5th Sunday FUMCH Offering Stephen Ministries Sing at 5pm followed by Dinner NO Bible Study

31 5pm Finance Committee- Educ Bldg 7pm Church Council Meeting-Educ Bldg

NOTES: Prayers on the HARC Porch meets every Friday Morning at 9:30am. Come join us in prayer & fellowship. UMW FL Conference “Mission u” @ Bethune-Cookman University will be held July 13-16, 2017. See Ina Kay Morgan for Applications. UMW CIRCLES, UMM GROUP, K-GROUPS, KCLUB, THE REVELATION SERVICE, AND CHOIR WILL NOT MEET DURING JULY.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be

free indeed. (John 8:36 NIV)

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June 1st started Hurricane Season and triggers us to get our households ready in case of storms of all kinds. It could be tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, or even lightening. This is a time to look around your property and be sure things are secured, windows don’t leak and a time to get your Hurricane Kit ready.Hurricane survival is contingent upon being prepared for the worst. A good Hurricane preparedness plan starts off with a hurricane checklist to ensure that you and your family have the necessary survival gear to get you through the worst that a hurricane has to throw at you. With that in mind, National-

Hurricane-Center has brought to you this hurricane checklist from the American Red Cross. • Water: One gallon, per person, per day, for three days• Non perishable food: enough for three days• Flashlight(s)• Battery powered radio• Extra batteries• A first aid kit• Extra medications• A multipurpose tool (like a Swiss Army Knife)• Sanitary or personal hygiene products• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of

address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)• Cell phone and chargers• Family and emergency contact information• Extra cash• Emergency blanket• Map of the area• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers, etc…)• Pet supplies (leashes, collar with ID, food carrier, bowl, food)• Tools and supplies for securing the home• Extra set of car keys and house keys• Extra clothing, hat, and sturdy shoes• Insect repellant and sun screen• Camera for taking pictures of hurricane damage

In addition to marking off the items on this hurricane checklist, you should be sure that you are in a safe, and secure shelter. You can look at the Putnam or Alachua County Emergency management websites for more information specific to your county. For updates on where the storm is, check National-Hurricane-Center’s Hurricane Tracker. And be prepared for other hurricane menaces like hurricane spawned tornadoes.

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE!!

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HAWTHORNE FFA NEWS

WCJB TV 20 came out to the Hawthorne FFA Open House that was held on June 27, 2017. Click on the link below to watch the news clip and read the article.

http://www.wcjb

Stay tuned for more information on Hawthorne FFA!!!

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 26-June 30, 2017Featuring the Children, Teachers & Volunteers

Continued next page

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�17See everyone next year!!!

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SPARR UMC HORSE SHOW https://www.facebook.com/sparrhorseshow

Pastor Stacey Spence First Sermon - July 2, 2017

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Thankyoueveryoneforsuppor4ngtheFloridaUnitedMethodistChildren’sHomeinprayer,giXs,monetarydona4ons,andwithyour4me.

ThetotalgivingforJunewas$500totheChildren’sHome.

Thetotalgivingsofarthisyearis$3373!

PleasestopbytheFellowshipHalltoseetheupdatedpicturesIhavepostedoftheeventshappeningattheMadisonYouthRanch.I’vepostedpicturesofthecompletedpoolconstruc4onproject.ThegroundhasbeenbrokenforthechapelandCounselingandSupportServicesbuildings.Alsotherearesomesummerpicturesofthechildrenenjoyingafishingac4vity.

EachmonththissummerIwillbepos4ngtheyearshighlightsattheChildren’sHome.Iwillbeupda4ngthebulle4nboardinacoupleofweekswithschoolsupplieslistandhighlightsattheEnterprisecampuslikeagradua4onpicture!GodisdoingamazingthingsattheChildren’sHome.

Ifyouwouldliketodonateschoolsupplies,giXcardssothechildrencanpurchasetheirownsupplies,ormakedona4onstotheChildren’sHometowardsthepurchaseofschoolsuppliespleaseseetheaCachedlistforsuggestedsupplies.IfyouwouldlikemetopurchasesuppliespleaseseemenolaterthanJuly30th.TheChildren’sHomeisreques4ngdona4onsnolaterthanAugust4th.Pleaseseemeifyouhaveanyques4onsorifyouwouldlikeaschoolsupplylist.

ThankyouallforallyoualldotosupporttheFloridaUnitedMethodistChildren’sHome.

Back-to-School Drive List

Believe it or not, the school year will be upon us before we know it. The time has now come for our back-to-school supply drive for our children. This is a time when generous individuals, churches, and groups collect necessary school supplies for our students and staff. On the next page, you will find the school needs list for our children. To help us process the items received, we ask that they please be delivered to the

Children's Home (Enterprise campus) no later than August 4th, 2017.

If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Bellomy, Volunteer Relations Supervisor, at 386.668.4774 ext. 2321, or

at lynn.bellomy@fumch.org.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and the ministry here at the Children's Home.

Jennifer Davis

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HIGHEST PRIORITY • Activity Fees (field trips, instrument rentals, extracurricular activity fees) • Flash Drives • Copy/Printer Paper • Poster Board • $5.00 gift cards for rewards/recognition (Wal-Mart or Dollar Tree) • Backpacks (standard size) • Hand Sanitizer (large bottles) • Ear buds or headphones • Binder (hard) 1', 1 1/2" and 2" • Tissue boxes ADDITIONAL NEEDS • Colored paper • Construction paper • Student planner • Art supplies (acrylic and water color paint, sketch paper, glitter, drawing paper, small-framed canvas) • Tri-fold display boards • Folders (with and without prongs) • Dry erase markers and erasers, dry erase cleaning liquid • Disinfecting wipes • Notebook paper (wide and/or college ruled) • Dividers (5 or 8 tabs) • Calculators (non-scientific) • Sheet protectors • Mechanical pencils and lead refills • Colored pencils • Sharpie markers • Black and blue pens • K-5th grade math flash cards • Highlighters • Crayola fine markers • 100 calorie snacks (for elementary schoolers' snack) • Water bottles (for field trips) • 3/4" scotch tape • Handwriting tablets • Glue sticks (no liquid) • Coloring books (both adult and child) *Please, no pencil sharpeners

Florida United Methodist Children's Home | 386.668.4774 | www.fumch.org

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N D S Y G N K C K S D Y A X U K V A I O K O J D E L O D T O Y J W M E K A P C P E G I D N U A E O T Y Q G P E J M D T H A N R T R E E F I A L U M N I R T O B E P A W A I R I N F I Y Z T O R O I G Z R G I G I K T U R F A R M E R S R C C N U J E W I S M E Y F T E S R A P E I U A T K H D P M D F P F R F E I S C H F Z W U B S V O M W O P M P Z R H E K D F U S F F T C E N R S M Q O R Z T X S M S V U A E K R L G J V P R P C L O V E V T F H B J S X A Z Q Z G V K R E F Y L Z L C W T B M L K E Z C O M Y X N M F O A M K O O J Q I Q X H B L Q D W R S X B Y D A R E E R U T L U C I R G A O Q F N M U T S D D S U Y H Y N W M U T H B L H U G S H D Q E A C C F H L V G J T M F P S B M I N S R E D A E L O N F G W K D S I F P P U H T G B P M D M P Y L A T H O C P V Z G O X A O E T L J P E L H O T T O M Z W A

AGRICULTUREALUMNIAMERICACAPECOMMUNITYCOMPETITIONCOURAGEFARMERSFFAFOOD

FRIENDSFUNFUTUREGARDENGODHAWTHORNEHEARTHEROHOPEKIDS

LEADERSLOVEMOTTOMUSICSTEERVSBWISDOMWORSHIP

TEEN/YOUTH ACTIVITY WORD SEARCH

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This week a number of men and women have left a community and a congregation and have traveled to begin a new ministry. This process is physically, emotionally and spiritually challenging. The appointive cabinet’s role in reflecting on the gifts of clergy and sending them to assignments began in December and continued through the middle of April. Our work included prayer, consultation with laity and clergy and listening. In the end, the appointments were affirmed at the Florida Annual Conference, meeting in Orlando earlier this month. And now, in many congregations, a new season of life and ministry is beginning. It is important to say first that a change in clergy leadership is disruptive. The appointive cabinet does this work in response to retirements, requests from local churches and clergy, and the presence of decline or status quo or conflict. We are quite clear that this is not about change for the sake of change. And yet, in a context of status quo, decline or conflict, disruption can be constructive. It can be God’s new creation (2 Corinthians 5. 17). A few elements of this change are essential if the new season is to be generative. 1. The pastor and the congregation will each need to make peace with their own pasts. At times the congregation will want to project their feelings about their former leader onto the new pastor. And at times the pastor will have unresolved issues from the last ministry that have not been fully addressed. Making peace with the past will allow each to see the other with new eyes and even a new heart. 2. The congregation will be asking about their new leader, “Will he or she love us, as we are?” “Will he or she come to know us and our community?” “Will he or she be a good shepherd?” See my 2016 Ordination Sermon, “The Odor of the Sheep.” These questions are related to wisdom of one of my mentors, Ken Callahan, who noted that people experience us first as a shepherd, then as a preacher and finally as a leader. 3. How is this done in practice? It is important, in the first weeks, to have scheduled and structured times to 1) share meals and 2) tell stories. How will the pastor begin to know the stories of the congregation and community? How will congregational leaders begin to know the story of the pastor’s life, his or her conversion to Christ and call to ministry? 4. The relationship of clergy and congregation is over time about much more than whether either likes or is happy with the other. Over time, the more important question is that we engage the mission field, which is the community surrounding us. In the Florida Conference, we are attempting to see the children at risk in schools or new to our schools as “our kids.” This is one simple way the leadership of a church can begin to see the mission field. 5. Lastly, in a time of deep change (which is surely the first week of a new pastor’s life and ministry in a new congregation), it is essential that we rely upon God and the disciplines God uses to restore, renew and equip. This is reading scripture, interceding for the people, having a conversation with a mentor, friend or district superintendent, taking a Sabbath day (even in the midst of unfinished work) and planning some family ritual (where appropriate) that acknowledges the family’s experience of transition. I will be praying, by name this week for the clergy who are entering into new places of leadership. I pray that you will experience the prevenient grace of God that has gone before you. I pray that you will announce the good news of Jesus Christ to the people on your first Sunday. And I pray that God will supply your every need. I will also be praying, by name this week for the congregations who are receiving new pastors. I pray that you will receive a pastor who will come to love you and to lead you. I pray that together you will see the mission field that surrounds you. And I pray that you experience in this new season a revival and a renewed sense of the nearness of God. None of this happens by accident. It calls for intentionality, planning and walking together. May God bless you and be with you in this first week of ministry together.