Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Enote-- 6/18/13
Dear Friends,
So much newness happening in the life of Faith! There are truly some exciting adventures we are embarking on...As I prepare to transition to Faith UMC in Genoa & Pastor Kelli Beard prepares to transition here. All of it is exciting & a little scary at the same time. But the God who calls us together also walks every step of our journey with us, no matter where that might lead us. Sometimes we'll find ourselves in familiar territory & other times we find ourselves in places that we never expected & God is with us the whole time.
On Saturday, our mission team is leaving for New York City to be the hands & feet of Jesus. We have much on our agenda...We'll work hard, play hard, & pray hard. Your prayers will help give us strength as we embark on this adventure together! The list of the mission team is in this message along with a prayer that you can use to pray for us...Or whatever words of blessing you'd like to offer would be welcomed! Feel free to email or text me prayers that I can share with our team throughout the week-- pastormelissa@faithumcop.org .
Rita Bartak, Janice Bridgman, Lindsey Bridgman, Vicki Brudnicki, Beth Bryce, Alec Cardinal, Lance Cardinal, Emily Cook, Ethan Cook, Colin Coutts, Allison Drechny, Amy Dust, Jessica Dziadkowiec, Sam Everett, Ashley Galassini, Megan Islas, Kyle Kawczynski, Laura Kawczynski, Katy Koch, Randy Koch, Wendy Koch, Sarah Kubicki, Jana Kubicki, Gary Lang, Genie Lang, Kelly Lang, Janice McBride, Melissa Meyers, Bruce Person, Logan Smead.
Almighty God, pour out your blessings on these your servants, who you have called to be the hands & feet of Jesus in New York City. Grant them grace to give themselves wholehearted in your service. Give safe travel & energy for work & time to experience all they will see & do.
Keep before them the example of Jesus, who did not think first of himself, but gave himself for us all. Let them share in Christ's ministry & blessing that they may also enter into his joy.
Lord, guide them in their work. Reward their faithfulness with the knowledge that through them your purposes are accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Blessings,
~Pastor Melissa
So much newness happening in the life of Faith! There are truly some exciting adventures we are embarking on...As I prepare to transition to Faith UMC in Genoa & Pastor Kelli Beard prepares to transition here. All of it is exciting & a little scary at the same time. But the God who calls us together also walks every step of our journey with us, no matter where that might lead us. Sometimes we'll find ourselves in familiar territory & other times we find ourselves in places that we never expected & God is with us the whole time.
On Saturday, our mission team is leaving for New York City to be the hands & feet of Jesus. We have much on our agenda...We'll work hard, play hard, & pray hard. Your prayers will help give us strength as we embark on this adventure together! The list of the mission team is in this message along with a prayer that you can use to pray for us...Or whatever words of blessing you'd like to offer would be welcomed! Feel free to email or text me prayers that I can share with our team throughout the week-- pastormelissa@faithumcop.org .
Rita Bartak, Janice Bridgman, Lindsey Bridgman, Vicki Brudnicki, Beth Bryce, Alec Cardinal, Lance Cardinal, Emily Cook, Ethan Cook, Colin Coutts, Allison Drechny, Amy Dust, Jessica Dziadkowiec, Sam Everett, Ashley Galassini, Megan Islas, Kyle Kawczynski, Laura Kawczynski, Katy Koch, Randy Koch, Wendy Koch, Sarah Kubicki, Jana Kubicki, Gary Lang, Genie Lang, Kelly Lang, Janice McBride, Melissa Meyers, Bruce Person, Logan Smead.
Almighty God, pour out your blessings on these your servants, who you have called to be the hands & feet of Jesus in New York City. Grant them grace to give themselves wholehearted in your service. Give safe travel & energy for work & time to experience all they will see & do.
Keep before them the example of Jesus, who did not think first of himself, but gave himself for us all. Let them share in Christ's ministry & blessing that they may also enter into his joy.
Lord, guide them in their work. Reward their faithfulness with the knowledge that through them your purposes are accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Blessings,
~Pastor Melissa
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
June 11-- Faith enote
Dear Friends,
For those of you who weren't in worship this weekend, you may have already heard the news that I announced effective July 1st, I have accepted an appointment as lead pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Genoa, IL. This was a prayerful decision & one that came with much discernment. I am excited about the adventures that we both will be embarking on...Me in my new congregation & you with your new pastor.
It sure does mean a lot of transition & that can cause a lot of uneasiness. Not just in the physical nature of transition, but everything that it may bring up. The staff & I have received some questions & curiosities about what might happen. While I do know that there will be change, there are so many wonderful leaders in place to continue areas of ministry & help create new areas. Your new associate pastor, when that is announced, will be joining a wonderful congregation ready to continue to reach out in ministry. Pastor Caleb will also continue to serve as the senior pastor here at Faith as we continue to reach our strategic goals.
Some have asked what help I might need in this transition & to be completely honest... I don't know! I don't have a move date set, but am sure that I will need some help packing boxes when that happens! (side note: if you have empty boxes, I'll take them!) Mostly what I need in this transition is to be able to say goodbye to all of you well.
If you have time for coffee or lunch or dinner or whatever & you'd like to say goodbye, I'd love to do that with you. If you would like to meet to talk about any unresolved feelings or issues, I want to provide both us the closure that we might need. If you'd like to ask questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability.
As I said on Sunday & will continue to say... I am so very excited about the journey that Faith UMC of Orland Park is on...God has great things in store! My prayers will be with you in your adventures as I covet your prayers as well! We still have a couple of weeks together (and a mission trip!), so while our time together is quickly coming to an end, please know that a piece of my heart will remain with you...along with some glitter in the carpet.
Blessings,
~Pastor Melissa
For those of you who weren't in worship this weekend, you may have already heard the news that I announced effective July 1st, I have accepted an appointment as lead pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Genoa, IL. This was a prayerful decision & one that came with much discernment. I am excited about the adventures that we both will be embarking on...Me in my new congregation & you with your new pastor.
It sure does mean a lot of transition & that can cause a lot of uneasiness. Not just in the physical nature of transition, but everything that it may bring up. The staff & I have received some questions & curiosities about what might happen. While I do know that there will be change, there are so many wonderful leaders in place to continue areas of ministry & help create new areas. Your new associate pastor, when that is announced, will be joining a wonderful congregation ready to continue to reach out in ministry. Pastor Caleb will also continue to serve as the senior pastor here at Faith as we continue to reach our strategic goals.
Some have asked what help I might need in this transition & to be completely honest... I don't know! I don't have a move date set, but am sure that I will need some help packing boxes when that happens! (side note: if you have empty boxes, I'll take them!) Mostly what I need in this transition is to be able to say goodbye to all of you well.
If you have time for coffee or lunch or dinner or whatever & you'd like to say goodbye, I'd love to do that with you. If you would like to meet to talk about any unresolved feelings or issues, I want to provide both us the closure that we might need. If you'd like to ask questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability.
As I said on Sunday & will continue to say... I am so very excited about the journey that Faith UMC of Orland Park is on...God has great things in store! My prayers will be with you in your adventures as I covet your prayers as well! We still have a couple of weeks together (and a mission trip!), so while our time together is quickly coming to an end, please know that a piece of my heart will remain with you...along with some glitter in the carpet.
Blessings,
~Pastor Melissa
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Appointment Announcement
Dear Friends,
For the
last few years Faith United Methodist Church has been on a journey to follow
our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the
world. That call has led to decisions of
sacrifice, merger, moving, votes, studies, worship in a movie theater…among
other steps. Some of you have been on
this journey from the beginning; others may have joined this journey
today! I began this journey with you 3
years ago…It is with a mixture of emotions that I announce to you this morning
that beginning July 1st, I have accepted an appointment at Faith
United Methodist Church of Genoa, IL.
This new appointment leads me on a new journey as the lead pastor of a
church in a growing community ready to begin their new journey as they seek to
make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Please
know that this decision was not made without much prayer & discernment…It
has been my joy & privilege to serve here for the last 3 years and I am
excited to see where your journey will take you! I have been blessed to serve
as your pastor…Probably more than you know (and maybe even more than I know.)…
Our
District Superintendent will be in contact with our Staff
Parish Relations Committee Chairperson soon to work in the
transition with your new pastor.
While
our journey together is quickly coming to an end, as my last Sunday will be
June 30th, we still have some work to do together. My prayers will
always be with you for your continued growth and dedication to the mission of
the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the
world. We are forever connected by the God who creates, loves, redeems, and
blesses.
Blessings,
~Pastor
Melissa
Saturday, June 01, 2013
June Newsletter
Dear Friends,
There’s
a natural rhythm starting around May that turns our attention to vacations
& rest or fills our schedules with all kinds of summer activities. For some people, graduation parties are being
planned or attended…For some people, weddings are happening…For some people,
vacations to far away destinations or maybe staycations being planned… Whatever
the case may be, there’s a natural rhythm to our beings.
In this
rhythm of life, there are always times of rest…To reconnect to the Divine…To
reconnect to ourselves…To reconnect with our community…To reconnect to life.
Even in
the moments of rest & renewal, it propels us forward into another step in
our journey…Where ever those steps may take us!
And sometimes we might be surprised at the path that appears or the
paths we choose…But we are constantly moving forward.
There
are some really great opportunities this summer to move you forward in your
spiritual journey…Worship experiences, mission opportunities, children &
youth events, times of fellowship…Many different and exciting
opportunities! Some of the programs this
summer are test programs to continue in the fall & some are programs that
are just for the summer.
Even as
it’s summer, there are plans in motion for fall programs…Some that are new,
some that are evolutions of existing programs.
If you are interested in working with the youth of Faith United
Methodist Church & the youth of our community, there will be exciting ways
to use your gifts & skills.
Conversations will be held soon to plan for a tutoring & mentoring
program, plans for confirmation are well underway, the Faith Falcons will be
continuing this summer & planning for the fall… So many ways to connect
others to the mission of Faith United Methodist Church.
I am
excited for wherever this journey takes us…The surprising steps, the calculated
movements, the way that the Spirit dances with us & calls us to journey
on. If there are ways that you are
looking to step, dance, or dream, I’d love to talk with you more! I have office hours at Panera (on LaGrange
next to Whole Foods) on Tuesdays from 5-7pm…Come & chat with me & I’ll
buy your beverage!
Blessings,
~Pastor
Melissa
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