RETHINK CHURCH & CHANGE THE WORLD

What images come to mind when someone says the word "church'?

Unfortunately, for many people, the image that comes to mind when they think "church" is passive and unengaged with the real world. For them "church" is sitting for an hour once a week listening to a preacher drone on and on about sin and hell.

I don't think that is what Jesus had in mind when he created the church. Do you?

I think Jesus had something a little more active in mind. Something that could change the world.

This is one of the many reasons I am so proud of our church. Over the past year we have:

· Hosted a community wide Easter Egg Hunt

· Collected and shipped over 500 pairs of shoes to Guatemala

· Provided school supplies for the residents of the Methodist Children's Homes

· Hosted our largest ever Pumpkin Patch

· Collected and distributed over 200 coats in October

· Hosted a community wide Thanksgiving dinner

· Provided Christmas presents for needy children through the Angel Tree program

· Responded to the Haitian earthquake by supplying health kits and generous giving

· Donated hundreds of pounds of food to The Good Samaritan Food Bank

· Provided dozens of Methodist Emergency Rations for hungry individuals

· Provided emergency shelter for dozens of people who are homeless

I could go on and on. As a church family you "get it". And I am proud of you. My prayer for us in the coming year is that we will continue to grow in our outreach and mission both locally and globally.

Jesus' vision for the church is to a vibrant, active, life-giving force in the world. Let's continue to rethink church and together help change the world.

Grace & Peace,

Rev. Donnie