Grace and peace to you in the Name of Jesus.
One day a woman asked John Wesley, "Suppose you knew that you were to die tomorrow night at midnight, how would you spend the time until then?"
Wesley replied, "Why, just as I intend to spend it. I should preach this evening at Gloucester, and again at five tomorrow morning. After that, I should ride to Tewkesbury, preach in the afternoon, and meet the Society in the evening. I should then repair to the home of friends who expect to entertain me, converse and pray with the family as usual, retire to my room at ten o'clock, commend myself to the heavenly Father, lie down to rest, and wake up in glory."
We read this and realize that John Wesley would not do anything different if he knew he would die soon. Would you change your life if you knew that time was running out? The new year always reminds us of the life God has given us and what we choose to do with it. I encourage every person to make resolutions or commitments for 2012. We must have a vision for ourselves personally and as a Church. As God's people we must embrace God's loving Spirit of hope.
I am very pleased at how we have grown as a church during the past year. Not just numerically, but in discipleship and mission. On January 8, we will have a Special Charge Conference to pass our 2012 Budget. I invite you to participate. We will have a delicious lunch for all in attendance (11:45am). It will be a joyful time of fellowship, good food, and discussion of First UMC and its expanding ministry. We celebrate that over 2011 we doubled our Outreach and Missions budget. We are allowing the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit to move us into greater service. Evidence of this is found within our outreach to the homeless through IHN - Interfaith Hospitality Network - where we have hosted homeless families within our church building. We will be welcoming IHN families for two weeks beginning March 25. This year, our two weeks of hosting will include Holy Week and Easter! It is a wonderful opportunity that God is bringing to us to show the love of Jesus to people in need during this holy season. This will be the last year we will be physically hosting IHN families due to the purchase of a house in Worcester where the IHN families will reside - beginning this May, 2012. We will continue to support and be involved in this fruitful ministry as we go forward in faith. Please call the church office to offer to help with this outreach to IHN families. We also have made connections to the many homeless, called "families in transition" (FIT), that reside in area motels. Over 27 families reside in the Econolodge on Rt. 9 in Northborough. These families are our neighbors and Jesus is calling us to reach out to them to help in any way. Many children live in these small motel rooms hoping to someday have a place to call home.
Whenever we enter a new year we are given the choice to either be hopeful or pessimistic. I choose to find my hope in following Jesus as all my resolutions will fall into place if my personal walk with Jesus is a top priority.
I thank all who have made a financial and spiritual pledge to support the church in 2012. Your commitment enables us to keep growing in ministry and reaching out to those who are most hurting and vulnerable.
As we envision 2012 and beyond, it is also a time to reflect on all the good work God has done through the Church. I am inspired by the loving dedication by so many within the Church. The joy of being part of a team is important to me and I thank everyone who works hard to make the Church a Spirit-filled place of love and compassion.
John Wesley had a wonderful vision for the people of his day which is the same for us today. Sharing the love of God in Christ. This vision is encompassed in the last words he said before he died, "Best of all God is with us."
In Christian Love,
Pastor John
|
