1 Thessalonians 3:12- “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.”
This is the verse the Spirit has guided me to for a theme verse for Palm UMC for this church year we just began last Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent 2018, through 2019. So far in my time with you I have been thoroughly enjoying getting to know you, and can have witnessed and experienced the great love present within our faith community and that already overflows beyond it. From small gifts and cards to words of encouragement and appreciation, you have welcomed me very well and I thank you!
I have been focusing over these last 4 months or so, on visiting to build relationships (over 20 visits so far) preparing the church for neighborhood ministry, and working towards financial stability/stewardship. Visiting one on one is something I love to do and very important to build relationships within the church to be able to work together. If you have not yet had a time to sit and chat one on one and want to just let me know and we’ll set it up.
From my first few days at Palm I have felt God pulling me towards doing neighborhood ministry and specifically to Wilson Elementary school just a few blocks away. We have started planning a ministry of going to read to children during the school day. This is something that meets a need in our community, as Principal Adriana Baza expressed, many children are in households with parents working long hours, only one parent or even a grandparent as their primary caretaker and do not have that time of being read to, which is so important for literacy which is important for the rest of their lives! There is a high percentage of illiteracy in those parents as well. At the same time this gives us an opportunity to get to know children in our neighborhood and is a first step in building relationships.
The Pastor’s Bible study started up in mid-September going through the book: Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church. This Bible study is a part of preparing us to do neighborhood ministry as well. The book helps us examine our church and learn about practices to be faithful disciples and prepare for God to work resurrection within us.
Looking at the balance sheets it was also clear from the beginning that we need to work on our sustainability in terms of a more balanced budget. Actually having a budget is the first step, and we have previewed a first version so far in the council and are updating it some more, to hopefully be adopted at the January council meeting. I did a stewardship sermon series through October and November culminating with stewardship letters and pledge cards. Your pledge at whatever level is right for you is needed and cherished for the work of ministry God is doing and will do through Palm UMC!
One challenge I have issued to the council is for us to grow in small groups enough so that by October 2019, every council member is participating in a small group. Small groups are important first for our own spiritual growth and maturity, and also so we have a place to invite new people to grow in their faith mature and experience Christian community.
I have also been participating in our UMC Circuit (the pastors of UMC churches in Tulare county), the Lutheran Pastor’s conference the Dinuba Christian Ministerial Association, and the new District Latino Ministry Cohort as I am able.
The goals I want to accomplish are first, to take steps toward building a neighborhood ministry: my goal is that in the first half of 2019 for 8 (or more) volunteers from Palm UMC will read to children at Wilson every week. Offering services to parents such as literacy classes and helping fill out forms are other ideas to follow up once we start with that. I would like to see at least 2 new small groups start in the first half of 2019. We need to grow our pledges and fundraisers to meet our expenses, I would set that as a 2 year goal. I also am dreaming about the youth and children’s ministries and I think with a little help we could have some great ministry with youth and grow our children’s ministry as well.
This is my report to you as pastor- you may notice that there is something YOU are invited to do in every paragraph. That reflects my firm belief that we have to do this together! I thank you for all the ways you are inviting me into your lives and collaborating in the work of Jesus Christ. In all this, may the Lord continue to increase and overflow our love for one another and for all.
Yours in Christ’s Love and Peace
Pastor Michelle
