(Please read all the way to the end
of this article. If you miss this you’ll wish you hadn’t!)
When you read the book of Acts, which is a history of the early Jesus community, it is sometimes a challenge to keep track of all the developments, issues, and movement of people. When God is at work things have a habit of happening… of changing.
We have major news about the flesh and blood side of our life. Members of our ministry/team are changing.
Pastor Mary Cartwright has been appointed, effective July 1, 2013 as lead pastor of Nashville UMC over in Brown County by Bishop Michael J. Coyner and the UMC Cabinet (10 District Superintendents meeting together). Mary has been a blessing to FUMCB/The Open Door. Her new appointment is a great “fit” for her gifts and graces, but she will be missed here. Watch for details about a farewell for Mary later in the spring.
Our church staff is moving from having 3 full time ordained pastors to 2 full time pastors with a part-time local pastor or retired ordained pastor. This reduction in our staff is happening because of the reduction in our operating budget.
Also, we will be saying “goodbye and blessings” to Darren Wright in June as he and Tish relocate to Nashville, TN following her graduation from law school. Darren has provided outstanding leadership to our senior high youth ministries and has partnered with Travis Jeffords to lead our Jubilee College Ministries. A search committee is beginning to work. Our commitment to youth and young adult ministries is sure.
Finally, on the people side of things we thank Cindy Lonnberg for her faithful work in the area of communications/newsletters. Her position was eliminated effective April 1st as we worked to bring our budget in line with expected income.
When you read the book of Acts, which is a history of the early Jesus community, it is sometimes a challenge to keep track of all the developments, issues, and movement of people. When God is at work things have a habit of happening… of changing.
We have major news about the flesh and blood side of our life. Members of our ministry/team are changing.
Pastor Mary Cartwright has been appointed, effective July 1, 2013 as lead pastor of Nashville UMC over in Brown County by Bishop Michael J. Coyner and the UMC Cabinet (10 District Superintendents meeting together). Mary has been a blessing to FUMCB/The Open Door. Her new appointment is a great “fit” for her gifts and graces, but she will be missed here. Watch for details about a farewell for Mary later in the spring.
Our church staff is moving from having 3 full time ordained pastors to 2 full time pastors with a part-time local pastor or retired ordained pastor. This reduction in our staff is happening because of the reduction in our operating budget.
Also, we will be saying “goodbye and blessings” to Darren Wright in June as he and Tish relocate to Nashville, TN following her graduation from law school. Darren has provided outstanding leadership to our senior high youth ministries and has partnered with Travis Jeffords to lead our Jubilee College Ministries. A search committee is beginning to work. Our commitment to youth and young adult ministries is sure.
Finally, on the people side of things we thank Cindy Lonnberg for her faithful work in the area of communications/newsletters. Her position was eliminated effective April 1st as we worked to bring our budget in line with expected income.
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Now here is big news on the stone and mortar side of things: this Summer we expect to remove the old post office building from the lot on 4th street AND to break ground on the long-delayed courtyard project.
Things are moving more quickly on the demolition of the old post office building as bids have been received, our Trustees have secured a city permit to move forward, etc. As a result, that project may start several weeks before we break ground on the courtyard project.
Long term plans for the lot have yet to be finalized. In the meantime, we will have the existing parking area to use and our plan is to have sod/grass where the current building stands.
Soon after we begin clearing the lot across the street we’ll have a party and break ground on the courtyard/ labyrinth/columbarium/peace garden. The contractor on the courtyard project will be able to use some of the old post office lot for the storage of construction materials.
The good news continues: the cost estimate on demolition of the old post office building is significantly below previous estimates. Also, we will NOT be going into debt for either project since we have the funds in hand right now to begin the work. (Thanks to a great team of lay leaders who have stepped forward and donated approximately $100,000 in 2nd mile giving to help take the old post office building down!)
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Acts 9:31 refers to the early Church and says it “had peace and was being built up.” Please keep your church in prayer as our staff members leave and others come, and as some long delayed physical projects move forward.
See you in worship this Sunday!
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark
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