Reflections from CUMC Senior Minister Paul Hutchison This month we will give thanks in many forms for various gifts received during 2009. All of us will look back on those events in our lives that have lifted our spirits, taught us valuable lessons, and improved our relationships with others. I am particularly thankful for the work of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and Church Council in recent months. They took the results from the congregational surveys and listened to your hopes and dreams about our life together. They took action based on your desires. That action has streamlined the church operations and redefined staff roles and goals. For example, I will now have more time to prepare for preaching and teaching and to visit those who have spiritual needs within our congregation. I give thanks that, even though we are having to make cutbacks in some areas including staff, our church activities are now focused upon the culture of the congregation. In addition, our strict budgeting this year will provide us with a realistic financial picture. No longer will we see church as a free buffet placed before us by the staff who hand us a serving spoon. You have indicated your faith in your own ability to establish a good menu, work personally to purchase the food and prepare it, and then enjoy serving delicious ministry meals to your brothers and sisters in this community. I give thanks that before we accept a suggested ministry we will require leadership from the congregation to step forward. Then staff and laity will develop the ministry together. We will launch it as soon as we have enough participants to justify it within our limited resources. The next logical step from this new ministry approach might be to begin saving for future building rather than labor under debt which makes of us a society of begging rather than a fellowship of giving. In accordance with our giving, we will fulfill our dreams. I suppose this could begin as soon as our current debt is retired. I thank God for your wisdom in directing the staff through your responses to the survey nearly two years ago. I believe we will now be able to live in peace and harmony with one another without some of the disappointing results of past efforts at innovation. Finally, I am thankful for the wonderful bag of necessary goodies that you gave to me for pastor appreciation month. No pastor could ask for a more thoughtful and practical gift bag. November is thanksgiving month. It is also Laity Appreciation Month this year. I want you to know that I appreciate each of you, even those who cannot make it to worship or fellowship activities for a variety of good reasons. God is with us all. That is sufficient reason for thanksgiving for all of us. With gratitude, Novermber 2009 |