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| The Full Table; The Overflowing Cup"You prepare a table before me... you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23)Dear Friends: The annual meeting of our church with the District Superintendent (the "supervising" pastor of San Diego area United Methodist Churches) provides an opportunity to both look ahead and to review the past year of ministry. In my opinion, Thanksgiving week is the perfect time for such an evaluation, because when I reflect on our ministry, I am filled with gratitude. Consider the following blessings, which are new to us this year. We have a new youth ministry space and we are hosting a weekly program for youth faith development. We have a new sidewalk leading from the parking area to the sanctuary entrance; the courtyard landscaping is renewed. We have a new projector in our sanctuary, used and enjoyed at every worship service. We have a new "Legacy of Love" endowment fund to support our future. We have a new computer network enabling our ministry. We have a new staff position in the church office. We have a new curriculum in the Sunday School. We have a new partner in our Wednesday Night Ministry: an organization (made up mostly of church members!) called "The Welcome Door." We have new Bibles in the pews. We're even drinking a new kind of coffee, in line with our values and our priorities. I am overwhelmed with appreciation; especially when I think about the time, efforts, offerings, and talents that many people contributed to make these new blessings come into being. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I might have a hard time believing that so many new things could be accomplished in one year. Grace upon grace, the new things were ADDED to continuing blessings! We continue to feed homeless teens at the Storefront (monthly) and homeless neighbors on Wednesday nights (weekly). We continue to gather for three worship services each weekend, enriched by a wide variety of musical offerings. We continue to offer short term classes and seminars (Care for Cars, Safety Awareness, Discovering God's Will, Marcus Borg Study, Small Group Leaders, Responding to God, Replanting the Seeds of Life, Pastoral Pals Training) as well as ongoing groups and classes (Men's Prayer and Share, United Methodist Women, Adult Spirituality Class). We continue to march in parades, tend to babies and children, paint and clean, give to special causes, take flowers to those we miss at church, offer leadership to special ministries (such as the Partners Mentorship Program), and welcome everyone who comes through our doors (this year, that even included the Bishop). My list is not even complete, and even so, I feel astonished. Yes, we've had to say goodbye to a lot of dear friends who moved away or moved on this year, but truly, our cup overflows! I invite you to join me in giving thanks to God...
Gratefully, Pastor April |
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