Dear Friends,

There is a lot for me to discuss this week, so let me get right to it.

First,  thank you to all who stayed for the brief congregational meeting last Sunday morning to adopt a budget for the first quarter (July, August, and September) of our next fiscal year.  With a quorum present, the budget passed with 80% support.  I don't think anyone felt good about the shape of our budget, but the officers appreciate your input in the process and your support as we move forward. 

Second, this Sunday evening is an important evening in the life of our church.  We will come together at 5:30 p.m. in the adult education building (D-Wing) for an Italian-themed potluck.  (I'm told that this includes everything from pizza, lasagna, and spaghetti, to anything made with Italian dressing!)  Please bring enough food for your household plus several more people.  This is a good opportunity to get to know someone new or to catch up with folks you may not get to see as often.

At 6:15, we will begin our evening program in the Fellowship Hall.  The first portion of the night will be the recognition of our graduating high school seniors.  This is always a special event in the annual life of the congregation.

After a very brief intermission, we will then have an information meeting in which the officers will provide an update on some new developments regarding our property.  The Deacons and Elders spent a good portion of our joint meeting last Monday evening discussing several property and financial matters and we want to share with you the conclusions we reached.  It is important that we move forward together, and for that reason we know how vital it is to keep you informed of our progress.  There will be nursery care for pre-K children beginning at 6 o'clock.  Children in kindergarten and older will stay with us for the senior recognition portion of our evening and then we will dismiss them at the intermission.  We still plan to be finished by 7:30.

Third, I hope you had a chance to speak to Debbie Cain last Sunday morning at the reception following the worship service.  We wanted to recognize her years of service to the children and families of our church.  Though we had hoped that Debbie would continue as Director of Children's Ministry in a part-time role, she elected to step down after a decade of service here.  Some folks were not aware that this past Sunday was her last day until they arrived on Sunday morning.  I'm sorry that the only announcement we made prior to Sunday morning was in last week's CCConnect.  However, Debbie requested that the Session allow her resignation to take effect immediately instead of her original intent to work through Vacation Bible School at the end of June. If you were not able to express your thanks to her, I'm sure that she would love to hear from you.

In light of Debbie leaving the church staff, there have been a number of questions from parents about the direction of children's ministry in the weeks and months to come.  Let me assure you that this area is in good shape.  Bryan Crotts has begun assembling an excellent team of volunteers to provide leadership and oversight to this ministry area.  He will give us all a very brief update on Sunday morning regarding Sunday School, Children's Church, and other recurring ministries.  I think you will be pleased to hear that things are in good shape and in good hands. Vacation Bible School (June 21-25) is in the energetic hands of Julie Streng and Stacey Barbour.  Check the registration board in the hallway for a few volunteer slots that still need to be filled.  These ladies could run a small country and I know that the week will be a great one for our church and the surrounding community.

Finally, let me remind you about the church-wide prayer meetings on Tuesdays at noon and Wednesday evenings at 7 o'clock.  We meet in C-105 and begin by reading a short passage of Scripture.  Depending on the number present, we then spend anywhere from 30 to as long as 50 minutes praying for the reign of King Jesus to extend in ourselves, our congregation, and our community.  We pray for our nation, our missionaries, our children, and our church's leaders.  I'm increasingly convinced that, both individually and corporately, our commitment to sustained prayer is proportionate to our understanding how powerless and needy we are.  When I feel both needy and powerless, I am much more vigorous and committed to pray.  On the other hand, when I grow contented and self-sufficient, a perfunctory tone and timing creeps into my practice of prayer.  Thirty years ago, the British writer Malcolm Muggeridge said of this dynamic (bolding is mine):

"Let us then as Christians rejoice that we see around us on every hand the decay of the institutions and instruments of power, see intimations of empires falling to pieces, money in total disarray, dictators and parliamentarians alike nonplussed by the confusion and conflicts which encompass them.  For it is precisely when every earthly hope has been explored and found wanting, when every possibility of help from earthly sources has been sought and is not forthcoming, when every recourse this world offers, moral as well as material, has been explored to no effect, when in the shivering cold the last [cigarette] has been thrown on the fire and in the gathering darkness every glimmer of light has finally flickered out, it's then that Christ's hand reaches out sure and firm.  Then Christ's words bring inexpressible comfort, then his light shines brightest, abolishing the darkness forever." (Malcolm Muggeridge, The End of Christendom, page 56.)

Let's be both individuals and a congregation who look clearly at our inability to meet our needs and let that drive us to the throne of grace.

On Sunday, we continue in Mark 5:1-21 as we look at the surprising reactions to Jesus' healing the Gerasene demoniac.  Does the Gospel surprise us?  It should and we will see some ways that happens in this passage.  We are also receiving several more young people as communicant members on Sunday.  Come early, greet warmly, sing passionately, pray earnestly, listen diligently, reflect carefully, and leave for lunch slowly!

Your friend,