Five years ago I was in retreat at the hermitage, a Mennonite setting, when I wrote my first article for this newsletter. I had been called as your pastor and teacher, and it would be several months before I would begin in an official capacity. What seemed like a significant leap, from a parsonage in another part of the country to a home in Arizona, became the next step along what now appears to be a sustainable journey.
The relocation represented a significant change, and all that implies, in terms of establishing a home to be near you and the church. I suppose I am thinking of this because we are in the process of refinancing our home, for the second time, each to our advantage. However, the land I posted for sale in Michigan on May 24, 2006, has yet to attract a serious buyer. It remains to be seen if the timing on that sale will yet prove fortuitous. Pastor Briney All of this makes me keenly aware that I am neither immune nor alone when it comes to investing in and embracing events that spark changes in life. Each decision and each commitment makes for a new reality that promises change of one sort or another. Without reservation, it is good to be here, now, serving our congregation and participating in my own well being. There is a certain connection with you that has become established. We know more about each other and we are at a trusting ease in sharing the truth of our insights and experiences.
Recently I was in Lincoln City, Oregon. I went to keep a promise, and there I met people who also loved and valued the woman I made the promise to. I was welcomed by a colleague to use her office and to participate in a service at the church she is serving as an Interim Minister. Along the way, I met and listened to remarkable people outside the orbit we inhabit. One was a soldier who leads other soldiers, having served three tours of duty in Iraq, soon headed for Afghanistan. His parents were diplomats from Africa. He may well have a career in Foreign Service. He demonstrated a grasp of global politics. Another seatmate on one of the flights was an engineer and musician, applying his aptitudes to a job that employs him and to a passion that interests him. He told me that he may want to marry and have a family one day. I allowed that I knew just the place for him to make such a commitment.
On the flight from Los Angeles to Portland, a memorable encounter happened when least expected. The person seated next to me, who all but slept on my shoulder for the initial part of the flight, awoke and began to speak of the truth of his life. It turns out that he is a famous author and artist. His art form is himself, expressed in the tattoo among other things. He was just awakening to the reality of what fame and fortune offers, and demands.
When he told me of his itinerary over the next few weeks that will include finding himself on a mountaintop in Tibet to film a segment for a new television series, I asked him who had created such a punishing schedule for him. He smiled and said: “I did.” His charm and his compassion have set him on a trajectory aimed at the next ten years that is apt to place him on any number of mountain tops and in the depths of some valleys.
We all tend to set our course in ways subtle and stark in terms of what we always dreamt of, or most dreaded. Along the way, it is not so much what happens to us, rather how we deal with it that calls forth our faith and reveals our integrity. The night before I boarded my first flight on the way to Portland, I wrote a letter to the congregation I served as their Interim Minister in the early 1990s. I figured that was a less costly and less time consuming response, than accepting their invitation to participate in the celebration of their 125th Anniversary. There was a time in the mid-to-late 1980s when I was in forty-nine states an average of four times each, in less than four years. That memory is enough for me to keep myself on the ground, unless I am intent on keeping a promise, or engaging in some study or activity that promises to bode well for the congregation where I am, and you are. Besides, today I would not survive such travel, hours, relentless responsibilities and unforgiving demand for results.
My past gives me a frame of reference for understanding and appreciating what most anyone tells me about their life and times. It gives me also a unique perspective on the various aspects of ministry. Shortly after I began my first full-time call in ministry, I recall listening to a number of my colleagues. They spoke of a litany of things they were doing that simply expressed a variety of things that ministers do. When I did not join in their complaint, they wondered why. By then they had some notion of what I was doing relative to their efforts. I told them that ministry ain’t for sissies, but it sure beats working.
From time to time I am cautioned about doing too much or not taking enough time for rest. Please know that I do hear such concerns and that I am listening. I am resting more than I ever have. A good reminder of the need for that practice came when daily rest was interrupted before I arrived at my destination in Oregon. That was a not so subtle reminders that rest is just part of the deal these days.
This year I intend to take all of my vacation time and study leave. That will be a first for me. Yet, this is just the right time to pace myself and to carry on with you in the ministries of our church. The church council you elected is putting their attention on matters appropriate to their authority, in ways that bode well for our present and our future. It is my intention to work with all concerned to see that we remain stable, viable, and present for one another. I like what I am seeing these days as you go about your ministries in support of our church and in relationship with each other. I am thankful to you that I get to be a part of it.
On the last leg of my flights back to Tucson, travel was delayed by several hours. On that flight my seatmate was a woman who spoke of the notorious shootings in Tucson on January 8th. It seemed as if she was seeking some tidbit that someone who lived nearby might offer up. I did not encourage her in her pursuit of that inquiry, but when she said that Tucson had had some bad publicity of late, I thought nothing could be further from the truth. The competent, sincere and appropriate response to this unspeakable tragedy has revealed for all to see how good this community is and can be when called to rise to the occasion of sudden and unwelcome change.
By the time you receive this issue of our church newsletter and perhaps have read this from me, I expect to be doing whatever it is that being your pastor and teacher invites me to do. There are two memorial services being planned, three baptisms that will take place in our sanctuary, and a number of weddings that are being contemplated, just as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Lent and Easter will be upon us. Bear in mind that Lent is the season of self-examination. It occurs to me in writing this that I have an early start on that.
The relocation represented a significant change, and all that implies, in terms of establishing a home to be near you and the church. I suppose I am thinking of this because we are in the process of refinancing our home, for the second time, each to our advantage. However, the land I posted for sale in Michigan on May 24, 2006, has yet to attract a serious buyer. It remains to be seen if the timing on that sale will yet prove fortuitous. Pastor Briney All of this makes me keenly aware that I am neither immune nor alone when it comes to investing in and embracing events that spark changes in life. Each decision and each commitment makes for a new reality that promises change of one sort or another. Without reservation, it is good to be here, now, serving our congregation and participating in my own well being. There is a certain connection with you that has become established. We know more about each other and we are at a trusting ease in sharing the truth of our insights and experiences.
Recently I was in Lincoln City, Oregon. I went to keep a promise, and there I met people who also loved and valued the woman I made the promise to. I was welcomed by a colleague to use her office and to participate in a service at the church she is serving as an Interim Minister. Along the way, I met and listened to remarkable people outside the orbit we inhabit. One was a soldier who leads other soldiers, having served three tours of duty in Iraq, soon headed for Afghanistan. His parents were diplomats from Africa. He may well have a career in Foreign Service. He demonstrated a grasp of global politics. Another seatmate on one of the flights was an engineer and musician, applying his aptitudes to a job that employs him and to a passion that interests him. He told me that he may want to marry and have a family one day. I allowed that I knew just the place for him to make such a commitment.
On the flight from Los Angeles to Portland, a memorable encounter happened when least expected. The person seated next to me, who all but slept on my shoulder for the initial part of the flight, awoke and began to speak of the truth of his life. It turns out that he is a famous author and artist. His art form is himself, expressed in the tattoo among other things. He was just awakening to the reality of what fame and fortune offers, and demands.
When he told me of his itinerary over the next few weeks that will include finding himself on a mountaintop in Tibet to film a segment for a new television series, I asked him who had created such a punishing schedule for him. He smiled and said: “I did.” His charm and his compassion have set him on a trajectory aimed at the next ten years that is apt to place him on any number of mountain tops and in the depths of some valleys.
We all tend to set our course in ways subtle and stark in terms of what we always dreamt of, or most dreaded. Along the way, it is not so much what happens to us, rather how we deal with it that calls forth our faith and reveals our integrity. The night before I boarded my first flight on the way to Portland, I wrote a letter to the congregation I served as their Interim Minister in the early 1990s. I figured that was a less costly and less time consuming response, than accepting their invitation to participate in the celebration of their 125th Anniversary. There was a time in the mid-to-late 1980s when I was in forty-nine states an average of four times each, in less than four years. That memory is enough for me to keep myself on the ground, unless I am intent on keeping a promise, or engaging in some study or activity that promises to bode well for the congregation where I am, and you are. Besides, today I would not survive such travel, hours, relentless responsibilities and unforgiving demand for results.
My past gives me a frame of reference for understanding and appreciating what most anyone tells me about their life and times. It gives me also a unique perspective on the various aspects of ministry. Shortly after I began my first full-time call in ministry, I recall listening to a number of my colleagues. They spoke of a litany of things they were doing that simply expressed a variety of things that ministers do. When I did not join in their complaint, they wondered why. By then they had some notion of what I was doing relative to their efforts. I told them that ministry ain’t for sissies, but it sure beats working.
From time to time I am cautioned about doing too much or not taking enough time for rest. Please know that I do hear such concerns and that I am listening. I am resting more than I ever have. A good reminder of the need for that practice came when daily rest was interrupted before I arrived at my destination in Oregon. That was a not so subtle reminders that rest is just part of the deal these days.
This year I intend to take all of my vacation time and study leave. That will be a first for me. Yet, this is just the right time to pace myself and to carry on with you in the ministries of our church. The church council you elected is putting their attention on matters appropriate to their authority, in ways that bode well for our present and our future. It is my intention to work with all concerned to see that we remain stable, viable, and present for one another. I like what I am seeing these days as you go about your ministries in support of our church and in relationship with each other. I am thankful to you that I get to be a part of it.
On the last leg of my flights back to Tucson, travel was delayed by several hours. On that flight my seatmate was a woman who spoke of the notorious shootings in Tucson on January 8th. It seemed as if she was seeking some tidbit that someone who lived nearby might offer up. I did not encourage her in her pursuit of that inquiry, but when she said that Tucson had had some bad publicity of late, I thought nothing could be further from the truth. The competent, sincere and appropriate response to this unspeakable tragedy has revealed for all to see how good this community is and can be when called to rise to the occasion of sudden and unwelcome change.
By the time you receive this issue of our church newsletter and perhaps have read this from me, I expect to be doing whatever it is that being your pastor and teacher invites me to do. There are two memorial services being planned, three baptisms that will take place in our sanctuary, and a number of weddings that are being contemplated, just as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Lent and Easter will be upon us. Bear in mind that Lent is the season of self-examination. It occurs to me in writing this that I have an early start on that.
Setting a Course (back to additional letters and articles)
Every now and then I sit down with my colleagues in the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. Recently we broke bread together and checked in with one another as is our custom. As I listened to the experiences of my colleagues and the status of the congregations they serve, I realized that we all have our challenges.
Even in the best of times when such challenges are met, having to do with spiritual and financial well-being, it remains for us to be steadfast in our call to ministry on a variety of levels. When things are going relatively well because the basics are covered and distractions have been addressed, what is left is to be the church in our time.
Being the church in our time is precisely what God calls us to be in Christ. Whether we take the Bible literally or metaphorically, read it as prose or poetry, we are taught by experience to interpret and to embrace our call to serve in the kingdom. These thoughts are particularly poignant having come through Lent and Easter.
The great expectation of the afterlife does not exempt us from doing the work of God in accordance with the will of God throughout the precious and finite life we are living. It is in the era of resurrection after we bid farewell to the old ways that we get on with being citizens in the kingdom of God while we are alive. The prayer our Lord and Savior alerts us to this very reality. It is up to us to build the kingdom of God on Earth as it is in heaven.
When my turn came to share something about the church where I am, I spoke of the routine and heavy maintenance projects borne of our ministries. The work to improve our buildings and grounds are good indications of stewardship revealed in the ministry of our members and friends who contribute and volunteer. In all of this, we are building community everywhere we look.
But I did not stop there, knowing full well that these observable and quantifiable projects do not tell the whole story of what is going on for us. Capturing the spirit of our congregation in addition to our work ethic and commitment to our particular body of Christ is but one aspect of this remarkable congregation. Bunging jumping four hundred and sixty-two feet off a bridge is another.
I had intended to leave you hanging at the end of the last paragraph, but was moved to add something more in the aftermath of the harp and flute concert held in our sanctuary the afternoon of April 17th.
Thanks to the good efforts of those involved in creating the program, making up the tickets and promoting the concert by word of mouth, we are off to a good start with our spring concert series. The idea is to feature Jose Solórzano, our music director and pianist, and Dr. Christine Vivona, our harpist-in-residence.
Christine Harper plays the flute beautifully and is always welcome, as is Rob Boone, husband of Christine Vivona. As with so many things that are going well for our church, we have a good start and a good foundation. Our music program is in good hands with Jose and our choir director, Matt Rinaldi.
I have come to expect the very best of our members and friends as we make the most of our lives and our church. Your support for our church and the various activities and events associated with it make it possible for us to enjoy the ministries we engage in and for others to discover how good a church experience can be.
"The Christines in Concert," as with Jose and Matt, are perfect representatives of the people you are: civilized, intelligent and down to earth.
Even in the best of times when such challenges are met, having to do with spiritual and financial well-being, it remains for us to be steadfast in our call to ministry on a variety of levels. When things are going relatively well because the basics are covered and distractions have been addressed, what is left is to be the church in our time.
Being the church in our time is precisely what God calls us to be in Christ. Whether we take the Bible literally or metaphorically, read it as prose or poetry, we are taught by experience to interpret and to embrace our call to serve in the kingdom. These thoughts are particularly poignant having come through Lent and Easter.
The great expectation of the afterlife does not exempt us from doing the work of God in accordance with the will of God throughout the precious and finite life we are living. It is in the era of resurrection after we bid farewell to the old ways that we get on with being citizens in the kingdom of God while we are alive. The prayer our Lord and Savior alerts us to this very reality. It is up to us to build the kingdom of God on Earth as it is in heaven.
When my turn came to share something about the church where I am, I spoke of the routine and heavy maintenance projects borne of our ministries. The work to improve our buildings and grounds are good indications of stewardship revealed in the ministry of our members and friends who contribute and volunteer. In all of this, we are building community everywhere we look.
But I did not stop there, knowing full well that these observable and quantifiable projects do not tell the whole story of what is going on for us. Capturing the spirit of our congregation in addition to our work ethic and commitment to our particular body of Christ is but one aspect of this remarkable congregation. Bunging jumping four hundred and sixty-two feet off a bridge is another.
I had intended to leave you hanging at the end of the last paragraph, but was moved to add something more in the aftermath of the harp and flute concert held in our sanctuary the afternoon of April 17th.
Thanks to the good efforts of those involved in creating the program, making up the tickets and promoting the concert by word of mouth, we are off to a good start with our spring concert series. The idea is to feature Jose Solórzano, our music director and pianist, and Dr. Christine Vivona, our harpist-in-residence.
Christine Harper plays the flute beautifully and is always welcome, as is Rob Boone, husband of Christine Vivona. As with so many things that are going well for our church, we have a good start and a good foundation. Our music program is in good hands with Jose and our choir director, Matt Rinaldi.
I have come to expect the very best of our members and friends as we make the most of our lives and our church. Your support for our church and the various activities and events associated with it make it possible for us to enjoy the ministries we engage in and for others to discover how good a church experience can be.
"The Christines in Concert," as with Jose and Matt, are perfect representatives of the people you are: civilized, intelligent and down to earth.
Turkey Elves (back to additional letters and articles)
Since Thanksgiving is celebrated in November and Christmas in December, it occurred to me that we are in the season of the Turkey Elves. That would be true were it not for our faith. We are more than secular Turkey Elves.
As people of God, we give thanks for the gifts of our lives, our faith and each other. As citizens in the kingdom of God, we give thanks for the profound gift of God revealed in the birth, life and death of Jesus.
We reveal who we are in our choices and behavior as citizens in the kingdom of God while we are alive, in the present time, throughout the holy season of Advent, and for so long as we live.
As we live out this calendar year, I am thankful for you. I am increasingly mindful of what God is revealing in our relationship with each other. You as ministers in your own right, and I as your pastor and teacher have a history that has brought us to this fifth season of Thanksgiving and Christmas together.
Throughout this year, we have figured out once again, and better in some ways, how to be the church in our time. We have crossed paths, engaged in study and conversations, welcomed new members and friends, and been present for each other when there has been an illness, a death, a crisis, and other events that are most sacred.
The simple reality for me this year is that I feel better than I did a year ago. Had I not been diagnosed and treated, the odds are compelling that I would not be around.
The more complex reality for me is that I feel even better about our church than I did a year ago. As never before, we are making choices and acting on them in ways that bode well for our church, in the present time and the future.
As we acknowledge all that you have done and are doing, be assured of my prayers for all that we have yet to do in the name of God. The purpose and intent of this column is to keep you informed and to build community. The same is true of the announcements on Sunday mornings before worship, the Town Hall meeting that takes place in October of each year, and the annual meeting that takes place in January each year.
These traditions and connections are opportunities for us to make informed decisions as the members and friends who support the ministries of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
For the past several months, we have been on a schedule to create, publish and distribute our church newsletter on a two-month schedule. The cost-cutting benefit, reducing the number of issues from eleven annually to six, is obvious. The fact that this has been accomplished without sacrificing content or appearance is an indication that we are capable of doing things in new ways. The year to come will be no exception.
As we live out this calendar year, I am thankful for you. I am increasingly mindful of what God is revealing in our relationship with each other. You as ministers in your own right, and I as your pastor and teacher have a history that has brought us to this fifth season of Thanksgiving and Christmas together.
Throughout this year, we have figured out once again, and better in some ways, how to be the church in our time. We have crossed paths, engaged in study and conversations, welcomed new members and friends, and been present for each other when there has been an illness, a death, a crisis, and other events that are most sacred.
The simple reality for me this year is that I feel better than I did a year ago. Had I not been diagnosed and treated, the odds are compelling that I would not be around.
The more complex reality for me is that I feel even better about our church than I did a year ago. As never before, we are making choices and acting on them in ways that bode well for our church, in the present time and the future.
As we acknowledge all that you have done and are doing, be assured of my prayers for all that we have yet to do in the name of God. The purpose and intent of this column is to keep you informed and to build community. The same is true of the announcements on Sunday mornings before worship, the Town Hall meeting that takes place in October of each year, and the annual meeting that takes place in January each year.
These traditions and connections are opportunities for us to make informed decisions as the members and friends who support the ministries of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
For the past several months, we have been on a schedule to create, publish and distribute our church newsletter on a two-month schedule. The cost-cutting benefit, reducing the number of issues from eleven annually to six, is obvious. The fact that this has been accomplished without sacrificing content or appearance is an indication that we are capable of doing things in new ways. The year to come will be no exception.
A Bright Future (back to additional letters and articles)
I am mindful of all that our congregation has accomplished as I write to put attention on all that you are doing in the present time. Instead of becoming complacent or discouraged, you have stepped-up and carried on in ways that promise a bright future for our extraordinary church.
A variety of plans and projects are in evidence for all to see. The significant landscaping that is ongoing, the painting of rooms in the church and fellowship hall, and the number of members and friends who are engaged with our operating group ministries is something to behold.
In recent weeks as I have visited with people we know and love, some of whom are not able to attend services with us, I am reminded of how much it means to them that we are there for them, with calls, cards and visits. We are the church for people who choose to make it their own, whatever their circumstance may be. Our reputation as a genuine and authentic body of Christ is becoming reality for more and more people who find their way to worship with us and to work with us.
We never know when someone will come our way. Yet, we are discovering that in addition to word of mouth, more individuals and couples are finding us through our church Web site: www.orovalleyucc.com. We anticipate a second Web site to be online early in the first quarter of this year that will make our availability for weddings known to more people. As we become more intentional about our outreach to the community and being present for others through our wedding ministry, we are bound to enjoy getting to know each other even better and to welcome others into our midst.
Our music program under the direction of Jose Solórzano, in concert with Matt Rinaldi, choir director, and Dr. Christine Vivona, harpist in residence, along with the occasional student singers, represent the vibrant, collegial, and general good will that makes us the church we have become. All of this makes me more than optimistic. I am truly hopeful that 2011 will be the very best year in the history of our church. I certainly believe that to be so for my own life.
When it was learned that we will not be receiving a grant to fund a period of sabbatical this year, it was a gentle reminder that it is up to us to provide a portion of what God has given us to be the church in our time. I am not disappointed that sabbatical for me will be deferred. I am elated that we are committed to doing the things for our church that were contemplated, whether we would receive outside funding or not.
Our plans for 2011 include you in ways that work well for you in support of the ministries of our church, that we are called to provide in the name of Christ. We will continue to do all that we are able to do with the resources you provide, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, in ways that are satisfying to you, and are pleasing to God.
A variety of plans and projects are in evidence for all to see. The significant landscaping that is ongoing, the painting of rooms in the church and fellowship hall, and the number of members and friends who are engaged with our operating group ministries is something to behold.
In recent weeks as I have visited with people we know and love, some of whom are not able to attend services with us, I am reminded of how much it means to them that we are there for them, with calls, cards and visits. We are the church for people who choose to make it their own, whatever their circumstance may be. Our reputation as a genuine and authentic body of Christ is becoming reality for more and more people who find their way to worship with us and to work with us.
We never know when someone will come our way. Yet, we are discovering that in addition to word of mouth, more individuals and couples are finding us through our church Web site: www.orovalleyucc.com. We anticipate a second Web site to be online early in the first quarter of this year that will make our availability for weddings known to more people. As we become more intentional about our outreach to the community and being present for others through our wedding ministry, we are bound to enjoy getting to know each other even better and to welcome others into our midst.
Our music program under the direction of Jose Solórzano, in concert with Matt Rinaldi, choir director, and Dr. Christine Vivona, harpist in residence, along with the occasional student singers, represent the vibrant, collegial, and general good will that makes us the church we have become. All of this makes me more than optimistic. I am truly hopeful that 2011 will be the very best year in the history of our church. I certainly believe that to be so for my own life.
When it was learned that we will not be receiving a grant to fund a period of sabbatical this year, it was a gentle reminder that it is up to us to provide a portion of what God has given us to be the church in our time. I am not disappointed that sabbatical for me will be deferred. I am elated that we are committed to doing the things for our church that were contemplated, whether we would receive outside funding or not.
Our plans for 2011 include you in ways that work well for you in support of the ministries of our church, that we are called to provide in the name of Christ. We will continue to do all that we are able to do with the resources you provide, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, in ways that are satisfying to you, and are pleasing to God.
A New Year Together (back to additional letters and articles)
We are embarking upon a new year together. We have done well to keep the word of God alive, to maintain our facilities and to be present for others. So many encounters and memories back that up. We are living the reality of being the body of Christ that we are called to be. Whatever you may have experienced in the year gone by, you may enter this New Year knowing that you are part of a faith community that is worth belonging to and supporting. I know that I do.
We have reached the point in our lives and in our church that presents us with the opportunity to be the church in our time, with no exceptions and no excuses. It is time for us to grasp the value of sustaining our church, now and in the future. It is time to give what we are able to give while we are alive and to take the necessary action to provide for the stability and the viability of our church after we are gone. No one is indispensable. But each one of us is essential. For as long as we choose to be members and friends of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, it is up to us to determine what we will do to reveal our faith and to express our ministry.
We do not employ the all too familiar approaches to stewardship that are fear-based and guilt driven. Instead you are presented with a healthy variety of choices to engage in your own ministry, in thought, word, and deed. I think that you will keep up the good work that contributes to making us spiritually healthy as an institution. I trust that the decisions you make in this New Year will be based on reason, information, facts, and good faith. I believe that you will embrace the "Stewardship 2010 & Beyond" precepts of what it takes to fulfill our reason for being.
I ask that you sit down and read the work of the Sabbatical Committee that was appointed by your elected church council. It looks ahead to the year yet to come, in 2011, when each and every one of us will have the occasion to engage in a time of renewal for our entire congregation. The sabbatical narrative describes what is expected and anticipated of all of us. It is available to you. The copy in our church library is for you to read. Copies have been distributed to the church council, our standing committees, and our operating groups.
This document was written as part of the grant application that we are required to submit on behalf of our congregation to be considered for Lilly Endowment funding. We intend to do the things described in the narrative portion of the grant application whether we get the funding or not. Reading what the committee wrote will prepare you for what is to come. It will also prepare you to make an informed decision when you vote to submit our application at the annual meeting on January 17, 2010.
We have reached the point in our lives and in our church that presents us with the opportunity to be the church in our time, with no exceptions and no excuses. It is time for us to grasp the value of sustaining our church, now and in the future. It is time to give what we are able to give while we are alive and to take the necessary action to provide for the stability and the viability of our church after we are gone. No one is indispensable. But each one of us is essential. For as long as we choose to be members and friends of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, it is up to us to determine what we will do to reveal our faith and to express our ministry.
We do not employ the all too familiar approaches to stewardship that are fear-based and guilt driven. Instead you are presented with a healthy variety of choices to engage in your own ministry, in thought, word, and deed. I think that you will keep up the good work that contributes to making us spiritually healthy as an institution. I trust that the decisions you make in this New Year will be based on reason, information, facts, and good faith. I believe that you will embrace the "Stewardship 2010 & Beyond" precepts of what it takes to fulfill our reason for being.
I ask that you sit down and read the work of the Sabbatical Committee that was appointed by your elected church council. It looks ahead to the year yet to come, in 2011, when each and every one of us will have the occasion to engage in a time of renewal for our entire congregation. The sabbatical narrative describes what is expected and anticipated of all of us. It is available to you. The copy in our church library is for you to read. Copies have been distributed to the church council, our standing committees, and our operating groups.
This document was written as part of the grant application that we are required to submit on behalf of our congregation to be considered for Lilly Endowment funding. We intend to do the things described in the narrative portion of the grant application whether we get the funding or not. Reading what the committee wrote will prepare you for what is to come. It will also prepare you to make an informed decision when you vote to submit our application at the annual meeting on January 17, 2010.
Spiritual Connections (back to additional letters and articles)
It seems long ago that members and friends of our congregation participated in a questionnaire to gather information for a workbook on spirituality. Ester A. Leutenberg, who attends our Christmas Eve service with her husband Jay, needed a number of men and women for her survey. As the publication deadline neared, she had an imbalance in the data, with more women than men who had responded.
Don Anderson, Ian Beaton, David Bevirt, Chuck George, Doug Link, Jack Martin, Richard McQuate, Bailey Smith, Erv Walhof, and others who have a connection with our church came through in a timely fashion. Jeff Barton, the Interim Minister for our sister congregation, Casas Adobes, and Don Tuski, president of Olivet College that is within the United Church of Christ tradition, participated in the survey that led to the publication of: Discovering Your Spiritual Path Workbook.
Joan Bevirt participated in the survey, as did Osmond Ekwueme from Nigeria, whose family worshipped with us last year. Father Gerard Willger, a priest from Wisconsin, my wife Sandy, nephew Eric Dunn, and I, each contributed to Ester’s latest book, as did many individuals we will never know in person. All of this reminds us that our lives hold the potential to engage in a common purpose, no matter how random the experience may be, or appear.
Ester "has worked in the mental health profession for many years as both a publisher and as an advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a devastating loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986." Out of that loss came a lifetime of dedication to providing the tools to help others. With her daughter, Kathy Khalsa, she co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing.
Ester donated a copy of her latest book to our church library. It is one of several resources catalogued by Margaret Douglas that is available to check out. A variety of electronic and print materials are available to you by making use of our library that is located in the office area used by our bookkeeper. This resource is a good reminder of all that our members and friends are doing to engage in their own ministries.
Books of poetry and prose written by members of our congregation are featured in our library as well. The Education Group has featured these books on a number of occasions. Thank you to Louise Bayer who helped to establish our library in its new location. That too seems like long ago, yet we have only just begun to discover the breadth and depth of learning. The studies that take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are open to all, as is our library. The conversations, the insights and the relationships that form out of these experiences, and the Book Club, are something to behold.
Don Anderson, Ian Beaton, David Bevirt, Chuck George, Doug Link, Jack Martin, Richard McQuate, Bailey Smith, Erv Walhof, and others who have a connection with our church came through in a timely fashion. Jeff Barton, the Interim Minister for our sister congregation, Casas Adobes, and Don Tuski, president of Olivet College that is within the United Church of Christ tradition, participated in the survey that led to the publication of: Discovering Your Spiritual Path Workbook.
Joan Bevirt participated in the survey, as did Osmond Ekwueme from Nigeria, whose family worshipped with us last year. Father Gerard Willger, a priest from Wisconsin, my wife Sandy, nephew Eric Dunn, and I, each contributed to Ester’s latest book, as did many individuals we will never know in person. All of this reminds us that our lives hold the potential to engage in a common purpose, no matter how random the experience may be, or appear.
Ester "has worked in the mental health profession for many years as both a publisher and as an advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a devastating loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986." Out of that loss came a lifetime of dedication to providing the tools to help others. With her daughter, Kathy Khalsa, she co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing.
Ester donated a copy of her latest book to our church library. It is one of several resources catalogued by Margaret Douglas that is available to check out. A variety of electronic and print materials are available to you by making use of our library that is located in the office area used by our bookkeeper. This resource is a good reminder of all that our members and friends are doing to engage in their own ministries.
Books of poetry and prose written by members of our congregation are featured in our library as well. The Education Group has featured these books on a number of occasions. Thank you to Louise Bayer who helped to establish our library in its new location. That too seems like long ago, yet we have only just begun to discover the breadth and depth of learning. The studies that take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are open to all, as is our library. The conversations, the insights and the relationships that form out of these experiences, and the Book Club, are something to behold.
Signs of Life (back to additional letters and articles)
The new sign at the entrance of our church is an indication of the "seen" and unseen efforts of our members, friends, and others who contribute to making things happen. The process to replace and update our sign began long before the end-product was installed.
The church council considered a variety of logos and designs, as well as the information that appears on the sign. In the end, the decision was made to "keep it clean and simple."
Inspired by the distinctive roof line of our church building, the logo on the new sign carries over from the design created by Rich Foster. Rich and Sharon Foster are long-time members of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. Due to Sharon’s illness, they have not attended services in recent years, but their spirit and influence is evident in this recent project.
In addition to the full name of our church on the new sign, the Web site address provides the opportunity to become acquainted with us when the office is closed. Anyone who sees our sign will also know when we gather for Sunday worship.
The project to replace our faded and outdated signs throughout the property became a priority after other maintenance projects were addressed. The sign project was not as urgent as, say, whether we have running water or too much water running after a storm.
Before John Paulson installed the new sign, Bob and Monique Henderson did the gardening to make the location presentable. Bob and Monique have worked together for years to weed the areas in the prayer garden, behind our church, which they built with their own hands.
Jack Martin and Herb Garman drove to the prison where our signs were made to take delivery. Herb’s co-workers were perplexed when calls were placed to his office from the prison to verify the sign orders and delivery dates. ("You have another call from an inmate, Mr. Garman.")
Don Chuba did the graphic art that presented a variety of choices, and that provided the prison inmates with the design, content and dimensions they produced.
Thank you one and all.
The church council considered a variety of logos and designs, as well as the information that appears on the sign. In the end, the decision was made to "keep it clean and simple."
Inspired by the distinctive roof line of our church building, the logo on the new sign carries over from the design created by Rich Foster. Rich and Sharon Foster are long-time members of ORO VALLEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. Due to Sharon’s illness, they have not attended services in recent years, but their spirit and influence is evident in this recent project.
In addition to the full name of our church on the new sign, the Web site address provides the opportunity to become acquainted with us when the office is closed. Anyone who sees our sign will also know when we gather for Sunday worship.
The project to replace our faded and outdated signs throughout the property became a priority after other maintenance projects were addressed. The sign project was not as urgent as, say, whether we have running water or too much water running after a storm.
Before John Paulson installed the new sign, Bob and Monique Henderson did the gardening to make the location presentable. Bob and Monique have worked together for years to weed the areas in the prayer garden, behind our church, which they built with their own hands.
Jack Martin and Herb Garman drove to the prison where our signs were made to take delivery. Herb’s co-workers were perplexed when calls were placed to his office from the prison to verify the sign orders and delivery dates. ("You have another call from an inmate, Mr. Garman.")
Don Chuba did the graphic art that presented a variety of choices, and that provided the prison inmates with the design, content and dimensions they produced.
Thank you one and all.
Judgment of God (back to additional letters and articles)
I have been thinking about what the gospel says clearly about the judgment of God upon nations as well as individuals. In light of recent events that are destroying our environment, [the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico], I wonder about the judgment upon corporations as well.
Our legal system has granted corporations the status of individuals, meaning that they can sue and be sued. Likewise, a recent Supreme Court decision has granted corporations the right to spend enormous sums of money to influence the outcome of elections, for or against candidates as well as issues.
Our responsibilities to God and each other are not circumvented by laws that are enacted by secular governments or documents created by corporate entities. It is reasonable to conclude that the individual, who ignored the advice of a colleague to shut down the oil rig when debris began to appear, was more fearful of losing his bonus or his job than he was influenced by the mandate of the gospel.
We are called to engage in life without fear and to love one another. I suspect that fear of ridicule, reprisal, and recrimination was more persuasive in the moment than the love for the eleven who perished in the explosion and fiery waters. Such very situations and predicaments are when it counts, whether we are going to be expedient and self-serving, or heed the word of God. In each and every decision and choice we make in this life we are revealing our character and our faith. In the moment and in the end, it all comes down to integrity, whether the consequence is great or small.
I think that we have an opportunity for as long as we live to get it right, as individuals, as a nation, as states, and as corporations, when it comes to employing the word of God. We will know we have it right when we pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done…" as a compelling reality, instead of an empty promise we have yet to keep.
The irony and the folly in all of this is that the cost to shut down the oil rig and to make the repairs that would have avoided the ensuing disaster, would have cost a small fraction compared with the billions that have been spent in the aftermath of the wreckage.
I believe that it is a matter of time before we grasp the significance and engage the reality of what Jesus taught. Until then, fear not. And peace be with you.
Our legal system has granted corporations the status of individuals, meaning that they can sue and be sued. Likewise, a recent Supreme Court decision has granted corporations the right to spend enormous sums of money to influence the outcome of elections, for or against candidates as well as issues.
Our responsibilities to God and each other are not circumvented by laws that are enacted by secular governments or documents created by corporate entities. It is reasonable to conclude that the individual, who ignored the advice of a colleague to shut down the oil rig when debris began to appear, was more fearful of losing his bonus or his job than he was influenced by the mandate of the gospel.
We are called to engage in life without fear and to love one another. I suspect that fear of ridicule, reprisal, and recrimination was more persuasive in the moment than the love for the eleven who perished in the explosion and fiery waters. Such very situations and predicaments are when it counts, whether we are going to be expedient and self-serving, or heed the word of God. In each and every decision and choice we make in this life we are revealing our character and our faith. In the moment and in the end, it all comes down to integrity, whether the consequence is great or small.
I think that we have an opportunity for as long as we live to get it right, as individuals, as a nation, as states, and as corporations, when it comes to employing the word of God. We will know we have it right when we pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done…" as a compelling reality, instead of an empty promise we have yet to keep.
The irony and the folly in all of this is that the cost to shut down the oil rig and to make the repairs that would have avoided the ensuing disaster, would have cost a small fraction compared with the billions that have been spent in the aftermath of the wreckage.
I believe that it is a matter of time before we grasp the significance and engage the reality of what Jesus taught. Until then, fear not. And peace be with you.
Keeping Covenant Promises (back to additional letters and articles)
As your pastor and teacher, I am reminded of the profound and historic reality of our faith tradition, that every member of our body of Christ is a minister. That is why it is common to see church bulletins and church directories that cite the names of the clergy and staff and that acknowledge the ministers of a given congregation as ‘all members.’
The letters of Paul to the early church attest to this theological and practical application of our faith. In what is known to us as his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The parts of our particular body of Christ include the ministries of our nine operating groups. The various tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with each group are realized by our members and friends in the specific ministry you provide. Each part is necessary. Each part is called to work in concert, with equal concern for one another.
We are called to offer our very best to God as an indication of our faith by using the gifts of our talent, experience and material resources. In so doing, we are engaging with God and the Holy Spirit as we understand the faith made known in the life of Jesus. Our ministry as a whole is made known by the presence, the faith and the witness of every member and friend.
As you fulfill the tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with the Buildings & Grounds, Education, Financial Planning & Accounting, Hospitality, Missions, Mutual Ministries, Office, Promotions & Publications, and Worship groups, you are breathing life into the vital ministries of our church. Your participation in the life of your church is a manifestation of your own ministry. So is the witness you bear by your presence in worship.
The church council and two standing committees; Pastoral Relations and Personnel, in concert with the group ministries and the witness of our members and friends, comprise our body of Christ.
As we learn and grow together in faith, individually and collectively, my prayer and my intention is that we will continue to find ways to present opportunities for ministry that are fulfilling for each and every member and friend.
As we move forward in faith in relationship with God and one another, let us continue to honor and respect each and every member and friend, always striving to succeed with integrity and never lapsing into complacency.
Since the creation, trial period and adoption of our Reorganization, Decentralization, Revitalization Plan, we have been learning how to improve our operations and the ministry we offer. There have been some adjustments along the way in the distribution of the various tasks, duties and responsibilities, and there will continue to be.
Our aim is to be healthy and functional, spiritually and financially. To that end, the church council is working with several of our operating groups to prepare us for an enhanced wedding ministry that will provide a preferred alternative for couples who want to be married in our church setting at a reasonable cost.
That is why I am committed to officiating at weddings, employing our musicians, and staffing rehearsals and weddings with trained volunteers from amongst our members and friends. In so doing, we will make it clear that we are offering a wedding ministry that is in keeping with being present for others.
With regard for our history and respect for all who have been involved in weddings over the years, we are embarking on a wedding ministry program that will involve more of our members and friends.
Our wedding outreach is in keeping with the gift of a couple married in our church. They are donating their experience, expertise in marketing, seed money, and their time to work with our Worship Group and Promotions & Publications Group.
Engaging the use of resources and practices that have not been available to us in the past, we will establish a presence at bridal shows, create our own materials for promotion and improve our Web site presence that is user friendly and more widely available. In cooperation with our Buildings & Grounds Group, we are embarking on a comprehensive cleanup of our grounds, which will be maintained by volunteers. As good stewards of our church setting, this is an investment with added benefits.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of our buildings and grounds, photos of the site will be taken for use in our wedding promotions and publications.
Investing in our wedding ministry program is evidence that we are making an appropriate and compatible use of our extraordinary church setting.
It is planned for and anticipated that our initial investment will realize a return and recover our costs over time. The resources dedicated to our wedding ministry project are above and beyond the money it will take to fully fund our budget for next year.
As you contemplate and determine what you will give to your church to fund the budget for 2011, be advised that all concerned are acting in good faith to make good use of the resources you provide.
The letters of Paul to the early church attest to this theological and practical application of our faith. In what is known to us as his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The parts of our particular body of Christ include the ministries of our nine operating groups. The various tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with each group are realized by our members and friends in the specific ministry you provide. Each part is necessary. Each part is called to work in concert, with equal concern for one another.
We are called to offer our very best to God as an indication of our faith by using the gifts of our talent, experience and material resources. In so doing, we are engaging with God and the Holy Spirit as we understand the faith made known in the life of Jesus. Our ministry as a whole is made known by the presence, the faith and the witness of every member and friend.
As you fulfill the tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with the Buildings & Grounds, Education, Financial Planning & Accounting, Hospitality, Missions, Mutual Ministries, Office, Promotions & Publications, and Worship groups, you are breathing life into the vital ministries of our church. Your participation in the life of your church is a manifestation of your own ministry. So is the witness you bear by your presence in worship.
The church council and two standing committees; Pastoral Relations and Personnel, in concert with the group ministries and the witness of our members and friends, comprise our body of Christ.
As we learn and grow together in faith, individually and collectively, my prayer and my intention is that we will continue to find ways to present opportunities for ministry that are fulfilling for each and every member and friend.
As we move forward in faith in relationship with God and one another, let us continue to honor and respect each and every member and friend, always striving to succeed with integrity and never lapsing into complacency.
Since the creation, trial period and adoption of our Reorganization, Decentralization, Revitalization Plan, we have been learning how to improve our operations and the ministry we offer. There have been some adjustments along the way in the distribution of the various tasks, duties and responsibilities, and there will continue to be.
Our aim is to be healthy and functional, spiritually and financially. To that end, the church council is working with several of our operating groups to prepare us for an enhanced wedding ministry that will provide a preferred alternative for couples who want to be married in our church setting at a reasonable cost.
That is why I am committed to officiating at weddings, employing our musicians, and staffing rehearsals and weddings with trained volunteers from amongst our members and friends. In so doing, we will make it clear that we are offering a wedding ministry that is in keeping with being present for others.
With regard for our history and respect for all who have been involved in weddings over the years, we are embarking on a wedding ministry program that will involve more of our members and friends.
Our wedding outreach is in keeping with the gift of a couple married in our church. They are donating their experience, expertise in marketing, seed money, and their time to work with our Worship Group and Promotions & Publications Group.
Engaging the use of resources and practices that have not been available to us in the past, we will establish a presence at bridal shows, create our own materials for promotion and improve our Web site presence that is user friendly and more widely available. In cooperation with our Buildings & Grounds Group, we are embarking on a comprehensive cleanup of our grounds, which will be maintained by volunteers. As good stewards of our church setting, this is an investment with added benefits.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of our buildings and grounds, photos of the site will be taken for use in our wedding promotions and publications.
Investing in our wedding ministry program is evidence that we are making an appropriate and compatible use of our extraordinary church setting.
It is planned for and anticipated that our initial investment will realize a return and recover our costs over time. The resources dedicated to our wedding ministry project are above and beyond the money it will take to fully fund our budget for next year.
As you contemplate and determine what you will give to your church to fund the budget for 2011, be advised that all concerned are acting in good faith to make good use of the resources you provide.
Being the Church in Our Tine (back to additional letters and articles)
As your pastor and teacher, I am reminded of the profound and historic reality of our faith tradition, that every member of our body of Christ is a minister. That is why it is common to see church bulletins and church directories that cite the names of the clergy and staff and that acknowledge the ministers of a given congregation as ‘all members.’
The letters of Paul to the early church attest to this theological and practical application of our faith. In what is known to us as his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The parts of our particular body of Christ include the ministries of our nine operating groups. The various tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with each group are realized by our members and friends in the specific ministry you provide. Each part is necessary. Each part is called to work in concert, with equal concern for one another.
We are called to offer our very best to God as an indication of our faith by using the gifts of our talent, experience and material resources. In so doing, we are engaging with God and the Holy Spirit as we understand the faith made known in the life of Jesus. Our ministry as a whole is made known by the presence, the faith and the witness of every member and friend.
As you fulfill the tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with the Buildings & Grounds, Education, Financial Planning & Accounting, Hospitality, Missions, Mutual Ministries, Office, Promotions & Publications, and Worship groups, you are breathing life into the vital ministries of our church. Your participation in the life of your church is a manifestation of your own ministry. So is the witness you bear by your presence in worship.
The church council and two standing committees; Pastoral Relations and Personnel, in concert with the group ministries and the witness of our members and friends, comprise our body of Christ.
As we learn and grow together in faith, individually and collectively, my prayer and my intention is that we will continue to find ways to present opportunities for ministry that are fulfilling for each and every member and friend.
As we move forward in faith in relationship with God and one another, let us continue to honor and respect each and every member and friend, always striving to succeed with integrity and never lapsing into complacency.
Since the creation, trial period and adoption of our Reorganization, Decentralization, Revitalization Plan, we have been learning how to improve our operations and the ministry we offer. There have been some adjustments along the way in the distribution of the various tasks, duties and responsibilities, and there will continue to be.
Our aim is to be healthy and functional, spiritually and financially. To that end, the church council is working with several of our operating groups to prepare us for an enhanced wedding ministry that will provide a preferred alternative for couples who want to be married in our church setting at a reasonable cost.
That is why I am committed to officiating at weddings, employing our musicians, and staffing rehearsals and weddings with trained volunteers from amongst our members and friends. In so doing, we will make it clear that we are offering a wedding ministry that is in keeping with being present for others.
With regard for our history and respect for all who have been involved in weddings over the years, we are embarking on a wedding ministry program that will involve more of our members and friends.
Our wedding outreach is in keeping with the gift of a couple married in our church. They are donating their experience, expertise in marketing, seed money, and their time to work with our Worship Group and Promotions & Publications Group.
Engaging the use of resources and practices that have not been available to us in the past, we will establish a presence at bridal shows, create our own materials for promotion and improve our Web site presence so it is user friendly and more widely available. In cooperation with our Buildings & Grounds Group, we are embarking on a comprehensive cleanup of our grounds, which will be maintained by volunteers. As good stewards of our church setting, this is an investment with added benefits.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of our buildings and grounds, photos of the site will be taken for use in our wedding promotions and publications.
Investing in our wedding ministry program is evidence that we are making an appropriate and compatible use of our extraordinary church setting.
It is planned for and anticipated that our initial investment will realize a return and recover our costs over time. The resources dedicated to our wedding ministry project are above and beyond the money it will take to fully fund our budget for next year.
As you contemplate and determine what you will give to your church to fund the budget for 2011, be advised that all concerned are acting in good faith to make good use of the resources you provide.
The letters of Paul to the early church attest to this theological and practical application of our faith. In what is known to us as his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The parts of our particular body of Christ include the ministries of our nine operating groups. The various tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with each group are realized by our members and friends in the specific ministry you provide. Each part is necessary. Each part is called to work in concert, with equal concern for one another.
We are called to offer our very best to God as an indication of our faith by using the gifts of our talent, experience and material resources. In so doing, we are engaging with God and the Holy Spirit as we understand the faith made known in the life of Jesus. Our ministry as a whole is made known by the presence, the faith and the witness of every member and friend.
As you fulfill the tasks, duties and responsibilities associated with the Buildings & Grounds, Education, Financial Planning & Accounting, Hospitality, Missions, Mutual Ministries, Office, Promotions & Publications, and Worship groups, you are breathing life into the vital ministries of our church. Your participation in the life of your church is a manifestation of your own ministry. So is the witness you bear by your presence in worship.
The church council and two standing committees; Pastoral Relations and Personnel, in concert with the group ministries and the witness of our members and friends, comprise our body of Christ.
As we learn and grow together in faith, individually and collectively, my prayer and my intention is that we will continue to find ways to present opportunities for ministry that are fulfilling for each and every member and friend.
As we move forward in faith in relationship with God and one another, let us continue to honor and respect each and every member and friend, always striving to succeed with integrity and never lapsing into complacency.
Since the creation, trial period and adoption of our Reorganization, Decentralization, Revitalization Plan, we have been learning how to improve our operations and the ministry we offer. There have been some adjustments along the way in the distribution of the various tasks, duties and responsibilities, and there will continue to be.
Our aim is to be healthy and functional, spiritually and financially. To that end, the church council is working with several of our operating groups to prepare us for an enhanced wedding ministry that will provide a preferred alternative for couples who want to be married in our church setting at a reasonable cost.
That is why I am committed to officiating at weddings, employing our musicians, and staffing rehearsals and weddings with trained volunteers from amongst our members and friends. In so doing, we will make it clear that we are offering a wedding ministry that is in keeping with being present for others.
With regard for our history and respect for all who have been involved in weddings over the years, we are embarking on a wedding ministry program that will involve more of our members and friends.
Our wedding outreach is in keeping with the gift of a couple married in our church. They are donating their experience, expertise in marketing, seed money, and their time to work with our Worship Group and Promotions & Publications Group.
Engaging the use of resources and practices that have not been available to us in the past, we will establish a presence at bridal shows, create our own materials for promotion and improve our Web site presence so it is user friendly and more widely available. In cooperation with our Buildings & Grounds Group, we are embarking on a comprehensive cleanup of our grounds, which will be maintained by volunteers. As good stewards of our church setting, this is an investment with added benefits.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of our buildings and grounds, photos of the site will be taken for use in our wedding promotions and publications.
Investing in our wedding ministry program is evidence that we are making an appropriate and compatible use of our extraordinary church setting.
It is planned for and anticipated that our initial investment will realize a return and recover our costs over time. The resources dedicated to our wedding ministry project are above and beyond the money it will take to fully fund our budget for next year.
As you contemplate and determine what you will give to your church to fund the budget for 2011, be advised that all concerned are acting in good faith to make good use of the resources you provide.
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