Year End Reflections
Pastor Tom's Year End Reflections 2009
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
The words above are the beginning lyrics to the once popular song “Accentuate the Positive” written by Johnny Mercer. This song was written in 1944 and made popular by Bing Crosby and the Andrew sisters. However, it has been surfacing throughout the decades by different musicians.
As I was reflecting on what to say to you in this year end communication, I thought, what better way to end the year than by highlighting the positive ministry events of 2009.
I will begin by saying “Welcome” to our new members who joined with us last week and “Congratulations” to our four Confirmands who completed the 13 week mentoring sessions. Your commitment to add your name to our church family this year was one of our greatest blessings.
We began the year by purchasing the house and property adjacent to our building. Through the generosity and help from many members we have almost completed the refurbishing of the house and garage.
It is my hope that we can begin transferring our Clothes Closet and our AA Program from our main building to the new property by the first of the year.
Another major and positive ministry project we are engaged in is providing space for Alcoholics Anonymous support groups four nights a week. After the transfer we hope to offer space for an additional 3 days during daylight hours to accommodate those who cannot make the evening meetings.
We have committed to starting our own faith based preschool next fall and we received a grant from the Ann Arbor District Board of Missions in the amount of $6,000.00 to help
us get started. In addition, our sister church, Hardy UMC, has committed to partnering with us and to help financially in our quest to reach out in love to meet the needs of the people in our community.
Our Vacation Bible School was well attended this year with over 70 kids participating. It was a real joy dressing up like a robot and participating in the closing activities. I look forward to next year when I hope we will be able to share God’s Word with even more children.
One of the real positives of the year in my opinion is how we have been able to reduce the principle on our new mortgage by over $10,000. This is mainly due to those of you who accepted the challenge of eliminating the entire mortgage by the end of 2010. I still believe we can and will do it.
We have a card ministry that reaches out to the shut-ins and those who need encouragement. Our Missions Team has served more than 79 people since our clothes closet first opened. We continue to support the Family Impact Center with detergent and we are beginning to get closer to our monthly commitment. Missions also helps support a S. Korean Missionary, provide gas cards, food baskets and other services to people who call in with financial needs or help with moving etc.
We have a team of Lay Speakers of all ages and if you will allow me to brag, I think they are some of the best speakers in the Lay Speaking Circuit.
Our policy of “Donations Only” for our yard sales and family dinners allows those who are struggling with finances to participate. My heart felt good the night I saw a family that I know is going through some tough times come in to dinner; afterwards the father said to me, “Thank you, we are so grateful.” This family would not have been able to eat if we were charging for the meal.
We started a new Praise Band this fall and we hope to be able to attract more teenage youth from the neighborhood and surrounding community. We are also hashing over the idea of combining with other churches to form a large teen group that would sing and lead worship at other churches on a rotating basis. Just an idea, so far.
The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful staff. It is a real pleasure to work with people who love God and are conscientious about their work. All of our staff deserves to be complimented on the job they’re doing. Our maintenance staff, our musicians, and our office manager are all top notch. I salute you.
These reflections would be incomplete if I neglected to comment on our Worship. There is a new and lively spirit in our worship service. I have tried to make sure that everyone is able to get something out of worship and not lean too much to favoring tradition or contemporary. It has been my desire to blend a little of both so that no one feels left out.
Thanks to all the chairpersons and committee members who have faithfully served and supported our church with your time, talent and resources. Without your help and commitment we would not have been able to accomplish many of the completed tasks of ministry.
My heartfelt thanks also go out to the congregation as a whole. It is because of you and your willingness to move in new directions (even though some of you are not always as excited about where we were going as I am) that has given me the hope and encouragement I need to continue answering the call that God has placed on me. I believe there is nothing we cannot accomplish as a united team of believing Christians if we work together to bring glory to God. As your pastor let me say how happy I am to be serving you and how much I am looking forward to 2010 as we continue to serve God where he has placed us.
Next year will undoubtedly bring some new challenges and the return of some old ones but we have nothing to fear. God will give us everything we need to meet these new challenges as long as we remain focused on loving God and doing his will.
Remember, you cannot hold on to two thoughts at the same time. So think about accentuating the positives of life - this will automatically eliminate the negatives. Spread as much joy as you can. You will be much happier and so will those around you.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas and may your New Year be as bright as the morning sun.
Pastor Tom
Merry Christmas
to all of you.