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Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday:
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Past sermons to reflect on
As a church we keep busy with many activities. We drive to our building on Turkeyfoot Lake Rd. We prepare for Sunday School. We put together mailings, newsletters, and worship bulletins. We fix church property. We host cub scouts. We prepare and eat meals together. The list can go on and on defining all of things we do. There is no shortage of activity. But in the midst of all this busyness, what is God calling us to do and be? It’s necessary to set priorities in our own personal lives and in our life as a congregation. Otherwise, we end up with an enormous task list, and we do not have the energy to tackle it.
In 2010, GVUMC will be focusing on the Three Rs (and I don’t mean Readin’, Riting’ and Rithmetic!). This year our priorities will be Reaching Out, Receiving In, and Raising Up in Christ. Our Administrative Council adopted this mission a few months ago as a way of narrowing down the scope of our work. We decided that by focusing on the Three Rs we will conserve our energy for the most important tasks of bringing people into the life of the church. We will focus on making disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world.
Even with the sharp focus of the Three Rs, this is a tall order! There are many ways we could reach out, receive people, and raise them up in Christ. For this reason, the Nominations Team has named ten people plus me who will begin to serve this year on the “Three Rs Team.” (See the nominations report in this newsletter for a list of these people.) This group reports to Ad Council and is given the task of focusing on this vision and listening to God for direction. The Three Rs Team will meet regularly and faithfully. They will study things like the demographics of our neighborhood to figure out what kind of people live around us who need the relationship with Christ that this church can offer. They will determine what tools we need in our tool box to reach these people, to nurture these people. They will chart a course that includes outreach, evangelism, teaching, prayer.
The work of this team will impact our life together for the next few years. This process will keep us from floating along aimlessly from day to day. If we do it right, we can have an exciting call that unifies our church around a common sense of mission and purpose.
What can you do to help your church in this time? Pray for this team – that they hear from God. Remain open in mind and heart about new possibilities for our life together. Ask God to help you work through any fears of change you might have. Finally, we move into this new year aware that God has a deep heart ache for a whole world of people who sit beyond our doors. And God would have us carry the same concern. To be a follower of Jesus means that we follow him in ministry. I look forward to seeing you in church in this new year
Your pastor,
Jennifer Olin-Hitt
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Haiti Disaster Response
UMCOR Responds to the Earthquake in Haiti
By: Melissa Hinnen, UMCOR Communications
January 13, 2010 -- A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday, causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and is responding to the devastating earthquake with funding, material resources and prayers.
UMCOR executive, Melissa Crutchfield says, “We are working with our partners on the ground to provide immediate relief to the people in Haiti. UMCOR has worked in Haiti for many years. We anticipate that there will be years of rebuilding needed and are prepared to work with the people to help them through that process.”
Working with partners, Action by Churches Together, Church World Service, Global Medic and the Methodist Church, UMCOR is channeling its resources to respond effectively to the people most in need.
In a statement to Global Ministries staff, the General Secretary said, “Events such as these can challenge both our faith and sense of security. As a church we know that the heart of our ministry is continuing and extending Jesus Christ’s ministry of outreaching love.”
Staff and Volunteers in Haiti
Volunteers from at least six different United Methodist annual (regional) conferences are in Haiti on mission trips. An email from two Kansas East volunteers reports they are safe in the guest house and, “We have a bunch of refugees in the front had have been giving first aid to those who were hurt, but we cannot get them anywhere at this time. There will be many deaths but it happened right before dark so rescue efforts are hampered. Some phone service and no police or UN radios working.”
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) executive, Clint Rabb, consultant, Jim Gulley and Sam Dixon, the top executive for UMCOR are in Haiti. Says UMCOR executive, Tom Hazelwood, “We have conflicting reports that say they were in a car on the way to the airport and another that they were in the Montana Hotel. We don’t have any absolute confirmation at this time and have not heard from them, but will be sure to communicate any news. Please continue praying.”
How to Help
There will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis has settled. At this time, it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti. In order to frame a response that is consistent with the churches’ needs, people wishing to volunteer should contact their jurisdictional VIM coordinator to determine when and how to appropriately respond.
Gifts to support UMCOR's Haiti Relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325. Checks can be made to UMCOR with Advance #418325 Click here to donate online. Haiti Emergency in the memo line. Checks can be put in the church's offering plate or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. 100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.
UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits
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