Hello Emmanuel,
I golfed in the church yesterday. It was a first. It was fun. I didn't win. On the bright side, I got free food. So I did win.
It was the first of our FamilyFest series. We will be trying to implement some fun events designed for entire families. If they are all as creative as the first, it should be interesting.
As our ministry expands, so does our leadership. Not only did we hire Pastor Shawn in January to lead our media and Small Group ministry, but we are introducing our new Administrative Assistant to Emmanuel today. Her name is Lori Upham. With an exception of a couple of weeks in the Summer, she will be in the church office Monday through Friday, 9:00-12:00. She is an active member at Clough United Methodist Church and has been very involved in the Emmaus Community. We will also be introducing her on a Sunday morning, hopefully as soon as this week.
I encourage you to send an email or make a phone call or stop by and meet her. Her email is lori.upham@emmanuel-umc.com. Or you can call her at the church at 732-1400. You will not see her much on Sundays, but she is going to be a vital part of how the church communicates with you and how you communcate with the church. She is super friendly and thinks I'm funny. Clearly I'm optimistic about such a great hire.
Lori will be in charge of the 'guts' of how Emmanuel communicates. She will manage the church's official google calendar, manage website articles, Sunday announcements, edit/print the bulletin and newsletter, keep church statistics/membership records, and do many miscellaneous tasks that are needed week to week (which can be many). In addition, she will do so light cleaning of the church, especially the lobby, sanctuary and classroom areas. Indeed, she will have a full 15 hours of work a week.
But most of all, she wants to get to know you. She understands the significance of connecting with people, not just with tasks. This is a ministry to her. She will be attending our Vision meetings and wanting to know who is who. Again, especially if you are leader, I encourage you to find a way to say 'hi'.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who stepped in to fill the gaps until we got Lori hired. There is a lot ot do at Emmanuel during the week, much of it administrative. And while 'administrative' sounds boring and 'red-tapish', I assure you that everything that is done is pertinent to sustaining the health of Emmanuel long-term. God has given us a church that is becoming more complicated. But that is what we get when we follow His Call and make more disciples of Christ. People always complicates things. Lori will help keep things straight.
So welcome Lori to Emmanuel and encourage her. She likely doesn't know what she has got herself into, but that's okay. Most of us didn't know what we were getting into either.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, April 22, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Carry the Momentum
Hello Emmanuel,
Yes, I know. It isn't Monday. It is Tuesday. I wish I could say my inbox was flooded with concerns over how the MMP wasn't sent yesterday. It wasn't. My feelings are hurt. Excuse me while I have a moment.....
......
... ok... I"m good now. Aside from the hurt feelings, I can't tell you how excited I am about the direction Emmanuel is going. We are 'making disciples of Jesus Christ'. The evidence is clearly seen in how our principles are being lived out (Hospitality, Worship, Faith-Forming Relationships, Missions, Outreach and Care). Attendance is up. People are giving their prayers, gifts and services with due diligence. There is an energy about the church--an enthusiasm--that what we are doing is truly benefitting the purposes for which God has placed before us..... to make his Kingdom known and to help people be a part of it starting right now.
So what do we do with this momentum? We do the same as we've done the past 4 years. We find ways to extend our reach in ministry so that more people can hear the Good News of Christ. Our work is never done until that day when Jesus says it is. So here are just a few ways we are going to carry the momentum forward:
- more family-friendly events: The Church can get in the habit of splitting families up when it's time for church stuff. The toddlers go to the nursery; the youth go to the youth group; parents go to adult stuff; etc. One of the ways we are going to extend our ministries is provide quarterly events designed to allow families to do family stuff together. This coming Sunday we are going to play putt-putt golf in the church--a family event (2:00). Coming this Summer? Maybe some good 'ol fashioned, home-made ice cream? For the whole family? It's an idea in the making.
- More Intentional Care: As Emmanuel grows, we don't want to let up on how we show care to the people. The Care Team will be experimenting on how to care for the members of the church in a more intentional way. We don't want to get lost in numbers. We want healthy relationships to remain in the forefront of why we do what we do. It's always a challenge to stay on top of care issues in a church that is continually growing, but caring is part of what God calls us to do.
- Visitor Follow-Up: The number of first-time visitors has increased signficantly in 2013. As a church that believes in Radical Hospitality, we will be looking at how to extend our hospitality ministries to stay in line with the increase of visitors.
- Problem-Solving Growth Challenges: When a church grows, problems... er... I mean challenges develop. And when a church grows as consistently as Emmanuel has, these challenges come quickly and consistently. I welcome these challenges as we all should. It is evidence that God is doing amazing things and that we need to adjust to allow God to continue to do amazing things. The good news is that Emmanuel has been awesome in how we have adjusted to challenges. Growth has continued for the right reasons because we have stayed focused on God's purpose for us.
Some of the current challenges for the next several months include: space for parking (first and foremost on our list); re-launching a Saturday worship service this Fall; becoming equipped to allow for growth in our Youth program; reducing our building debt faster; re-organizing our current leadership structures; .... to name just a few.
If the list looks daunting, welcome to Emmanuel. :) It's almost like we are use to it. It could be worse. We could have plenty of parking, not need a 3rd service, be content with our Youth program, not be able to reduce our debt and have leadership that has nothing to talk about at meetings..... So don't be stressed. Be excited.
I will do my best to equip us to extend minsitries and tackle probl... er... challenges. But if we have learned anything over the years, we have learned that, if we allow it, God finds a way to wiggle in and bless us. Thanks be to God.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Yes, I know. It isn't Monday. It is Tuesday. I wish I could say my inbox was flooded with concerns over how the MMP wasn't sent yesterday. It wasn't. My feelings are hurt. Excuse me while I have a moment.....
......
... ok... I"m good now. Aside from the hurt feelings, I can't tell you how excited I am about the direction Emmanuel is going. We are 'making disciples of Jesus Christ'. The evidence is clearly seen in how our principles are being lived out (Hospitality, Worship, Faith-Forming Relationships, Missions, Outreach and Care). Attendance is up. People are giving their prayers, gifts and services with due diligence. There is an energy about the church--an enthusiasm--that what we are doing is truly benefitting the purposes for which God has placed before us..... to make his Kingdom known and to help people be a part of it starting right now.
So what do we do with this momentum? We do the same as we've done the past 4 years. We find ways to extend our reach in ministry so that more people can hear the Good News of Christ. Our work is never done until that day when Jesus says it is. So here are just a few ways we are going to carry the momentum forward:
- more family-friendly events: The Church can get in the habit of splitting families up when it's time for church stuff. The toddlers go to the nursery; the youth go to the youth group; parents go to adult stuff; etc. One of the ways we are going to extend our ministries is provide quarterly events designed to allow families to do family stuff together. This coming Sunday we are going to play putt-putt golf in the church--a family event (2:00). Coming this Summer? Maybe some good 'ol fashioned, home-made ice cream? For the whole family? It's an idea in the making.
- More Intentional Care: As Emmanuel grows, we don't want to let up on how we show care to the people. The Care Team will be experimenting on how to care for the members of the church in a more intentional way. We don't want to get lost in numbers. We want healthy relationships to remain in the forefront of why we do what we do. It's always a challenge to stay on top of care issues in a church that is continually growing, but caring is part of what God calls us to do.
- Visitor Follow-Up: The number of first-time visitors has increased signficantly in 2013. As a church that believes in Radical Hospitality, we will be looking at how to extend our hospitality ministries to stay in line with the increase of visitors.
- Problem-Solving Growth Challenges: When a church grows, problems... er... I mean challenges develop. And when a church grows as consistently as Emmanuel has, these challenges come quickly and consistently. I welcome these challenges as we all should. It is evidence that God is doing amazing things and that we need to adjust to allow God to continue to do amazing things. The good news is that Emmanuel has been awesome in how we have adjusted to challenges. Growth has continued for the right reasons because we have stayed focused on God's purpose for us.
Some of the current challenges for the next several months include: space for parking (first and foremost on our list); re-launching a Saturday worship service this Fall; becoming equipped to allow for growth in our Youth program; reducing our building debt faster; re-organizing our current leadership structures; .... to name just a few.
If the list looks daunting, welcome to Emmanuel. :) It's almost like we are use to it. It could be worse. We could have plenty of parking, not need a 3rd service, be content with our Youth program, not be able to reduce our debt and have leadership that has nothing to talk about at meetings..... So don't be stressed. Be excited.
I will do my best to equip us to extend minsitries and tackle probl... er... challenges. But if we have learned anything over the years, we have learned that, if we allow it, God finds a way to wiggle in and bless us. Thanks be to God.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, April 8, 2013
I Call A Do Over!
Hello Emmanuel,
I'm back from vacation and I understand that Sunday services went ok? Or should I ask? Did Pastor Shawn scare away any visitors? Did Joey jam too hard on the piano?
Anyhow, I'm back from vacation and I wish I could say it was a good one. A visit to the Urgent Care was only one moment of a week full of downsides. The total bummer of the week, though, was with the Treadway family who lost their son Jack at 14 weeks. It clearly was not a good week for many people.
On a much lighter note, the website is resurrected after being dead for ---longer than---3 days. This is proof that new life is possible. Sadly, not all issues are fixed as I am sending this MMP through my gmail. Shawn helped me figure out all the techno stuff in order to make it happen. So if he did scare anyone away Sunday, I'm calling it even.
I spent way too much time in bed with a 102.5 temperature and list of symptoms that I won't make you read. I can only count a couple of times in my life when I actually asked myself the question, 'should I go to the hospital?'. One was in 2000 when I had a needle imbedded in my foot. The other was 3 days ago. I'm feeling much better now, though. One of the great things about bad vacations is that it helps you get excited about going back to work. And I am always excited to work with all of you lovable people in any case. So now I'm super-excited!
As I recover from a Winter I can't forget soon enough (have I wallowed enough yet?), I must be sure to celebrate with you the wonderful Easter that we had. In addition to the 1,200 that showed up to the Community Easter Egg Hunt, we had 374 people worship together on Easter morning (an attendance record). Many of them had free food. AND we evidently had enough parking as there were 2 entire spots open during the 2nd service. Most of all, we got to hear the story again: Jesus is alive and because Jesus lives, you can live also...... starting right now.
So no matter how sick you might feel (like me) or how sad you might be (like the Treadways) or how broken you are (like the website), know that Easter still happens and new life is still present and promised.
Christ is Risen,
Pastor Joe
I'm back from vacation and I understand that Sunday services went ok? Or should I ask? Did Pastor Shawn scare away any visitors? Did Joey jam too hard on the piano?
Anyhow, I'm back from vacation and I wish I could say it was a good one. A visit to the Urgent Care was only one moment of a week full of downsides. The total bummer of the week, though, was with the Treadway family who lost their son Jack at 14 weeks. It clearly was not a good week for many people.
On a much lighter note, the website is resurrected after being dead for ---longer than---3 days. This is proof that new life is possible. Sadly, not all issues are fixed as I am sending this MMP through my gmail. Shawn helped me figure out all the techno stuff in order to make it happen. So if he did scare anyone away Sunday, I'm calling it even.
I spent way too much time in bed with a 102.5 temperature and list of symptoms that I won't make you read. I can only count a couple of times in my life when I actually asked myself the question, 'should I go to the hospital?'. One was in 2000 when I had a needle imbedded in my foot. The other was 3 days ago. I'm feeling much better now, though. One of the great things about bad vacations is that it helps you get excited about going back to work. And I am always excited to work with all of you lovable people in any case. So now I'm super-excited!
As I recover from a Winter I can't forget soon enough (have I wallowed enough yet?), I must be sure to celebrate with you the wonderful Easter that we had. In addition to the 1,200 that showed up to the Community Easter Egg Hunt, we had 374 people worship together on Easter morning (an attendance record). Many of them had free food. AND we evidently had enough parking as there were 2 entire spots open during the 2nd service. Most of all, we got to hear the story again: Jesus is alive and because Jesus lives, you can live also...... starting right now.
So no matter how sick you might feel (like me) or how sad you might be (like the Treadways) or how broken you are (like the website), know that Easter still happens and new life is still present and promised.
Christ is Risen,
Pastor Joe
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