Saturday, January 31, 2015

Pastor's Letter - January 30, 2015

Dear Friends,

One of my all-time favorite musicals is "A Chorus Line."  In that musical is a favorite ballad, "What I Did for Love."  While the musical chronicles the challenges and heart-aches of going through an audition on stage;   its plot includes each performer telling their story of how they got "here", auditioning on a Broadway stage.   Their stories are powerful, moving, and funny.  In a sense, their stories tell what they each "did for love"  -  of dance and performing;  the sacrifices they had to make along the way, the support, or lack-thereof, from their families. 

This Sunday, we will reflect on "what we do for love" as people of faith.  The apostle Paul teaches that what we do as followers of Jesus is to be done "out of love;" - love of God, and love for another.   Along the way, we will face challenges,   and have to make sacrifices, but Paul would tell us that it is all worth it.   "What we do for love" is what gives our life meaning and purpose. 

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Please continue to pray for the mission of Buckhall United Methodist Church:  To make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Linda

PS – During the season of Lent (February 18th  April 4th), we will have a particular mission focus:  Imagine No Malaria.   It is an initiative of the United Methodist Church to reduce deaths due to malaria by providing specially treated nets for use during the night, when mosquitoes swarm.  90% of the deaths due to malaria are among children under 5 yrs. old and nets significantly reduce that number.   A net costs $10.00, and Buckhall’s Mission Commission is asking each person to prayerfully consider purchasing a net by donating $10.00.  Checks can be made out to the church, designating (Nets for Malaria).  Our goal is to provide 100 nets.   If you have any questions, please contact me (Pastor Linda).  Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Pastor's Letter, January 23, 2015

Dear Friends,
There is a saying:  Perception defines reality.   What we perceive as true, shapes what we believe to be true.   But our perceptions can be influenced by more that “just the facts.”  Our personal experiences,  our beliefs, our (limited) knowledge can all help to shape our perception.  We see only one facet of a situation, but having a second set of eyes looking at a situation, may give us a fuller picture.    Someone else’s perception can help us to see, more clearly,   what truly “is.”   
This week we will “see” what happens when we look at things through God’s eyes and find that God sees things differently.  How can looking through the “God lenses”   in our own lives help us to see and understand more clearly, the reality in our lives.   
I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.  Please continue to pray for the mission of Buckhall UMC:  to make disciples of Jesus Christ. 
Yours in Christ,

Linda

Friday, January 16, 2015

Pastor's Letter - January 16, 2015

Dear Friends, 

We continue our journey:  Off to a Great Start!; as we  think about our relationship with God  in this new year.  We began by thinking about new beginnings  and drawing closer to God.  We signified that renewing of our relationship with God, by renewing our baptism.  Last week, we reflected on Samuel’s experience of God’s call and what God’s call might look like in our lives. 
This Sunday, we take the next step.  We are called, but for what?    While the overarching mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ is the same, what each of us is called to do so that this mission is fulfilled, will vary.   Jesus sent his followers out on a mission. We will look at Jesus’ instructions for carrying out this mission and see how Jesus’ instructions are relevant for our mission today, as individuals and as a church.  
I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.   Please continue to pray for the mission at Buckhall UMC:  to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christ,

Linda

Friday, January 9, 2015

Pastor's letter - January 9, 2015

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we will consecrate for servant leadership, some of the people in our church who have said “yes” to serving God, by serving at Buckhall United Methodist Church. These are people who will serve on Administrative Council, Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Nominations and Leadership Development, Finance, and Trustees. Please join us this Sunday as we give thanks for their service.

Yet, there are many more ways in which people serve God by offering their gifts and graces in service here at Buckhall. We are grateful for the Servant Leaders who serve in the ministry areas of: Hospitality, Evangelism, Worship (choir), Discipleship and Small Groups, Communications, Age-level ministries, Sunday School, Missions, Men’s Ministry, Military Fellowship, and United Methodist Women.

The Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development is in the process of calling other people to serve as Servant Leaders in these ministry areas. Buckhall United Methodist Church is blessed by their hearts for service, and continues to be an exciting place in which to serve. We look forward to recognizing their service and leadership in an upcoming worship service.

As we begin this new year, I hope that you are spending time in prayer and discernment about how God may be calling you to serve. In this Sunday’s message we will reflect on God’s call to Samuel, and discover how his call can be a guide to discerning our own call by God. As you are in prayer, if you sense a call by God to serve in any of the ministry areas listed, or sense God calling you to lead us into another ministry area, please let me know.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Please pray for our call as the body of Christ: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Yours in Christ,

Linda

Friday, January 2, 2015

Pastor's Letter - January 2, 2015

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! To me a new year is like a pad of paper with 365 blank pages, each waiting to be written or drawn on. It is bursting with potential and possibilities. This Sunday we will begin the series: Off to a Great Start, where we reflect on the possibilities for this new year.
What do we want this year to look like?

Are there some things that we want to leave behind in 2014? Are there new things that we want to include in this coming year? Like cleaning out a cluttered closet, there are things we want to get rid of, others we want to keep, and still others we might keep, but plan to renovate or repurpose. And, in sorting through the closet of this past year, are we allowing God to guide us?

Imagine what this new year could look like if we aligned our hopes and dreams for this year with what our creative God, who has an infinite imagination, dreams for our life?

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Please continue to pray for the mission of Buckhall United Methodist Church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Linda