In reviewing a few articles from various work areas, it is clear that we find it hard to believe that summer is essentially past. Schools are back in session, and football is in the air. By the time you receive this newsletter, some area football teams will have already played a game or two. Such is the nature of things these days. Time seems to fly because we are involved with so many things.
Looking ahead, our Charge Conference is scheduled for Thursday, November 11, at 5:30, according to our District Superintendent. Once again other churches will convene their Charge Conferences here with us. Those churches include Flomaton, Canoe/Cedar Hill, and McRae Street/Bethel. We will begin with a meal and then break out into our separate meetings. The evening will end with all the churches coming together for a period of worship.
In preparation for Charge Conference, committees will meet. Those include the Staff/Parish Relations Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development. It is possible that other committees would need to meet as well.
Regarding nominations, the committee work is sometimes rather difficult and stressful. There are numerous roles to be filled in staffing a church for ministry, even a church the size of ours. There are the ministry work area chairpersons to be nominated and then committee members. There are the administrative committees some of which require members divided into three classes. Every area is represented in the work of preparation for Charge Conference which will establish the leadership for 2011 and beyond.
Prayerfully consider where you would commit to serve in the coming year. You will be given the opportunity to indicate where your heart is in terms of the ministry of FUMC Atmore. As you have heard me say before, look into your heart and prayerfully consider your God-given abilities and interests. By stepping forward to truly serve, you could become a significant factor in the life of a person who needs ministry.
We are First United Methodist Church in Atmore. God has placed us here “for such a time as this.” No other body can accomplish what this church is called to do in its uniqueness. In other words, we have a mission, a mission which is ours alone. We must work together in commitment to arrive at the “end state” as envisioned by our Lord.
