What's happening at Church? This is the time of year you hear that question as the lazy days of summer, vacations and activities of the season slow the pace of life. But things are happening at Zion!
We just finished a very successful Vacation Bible School, made a beginning on new plans to beautify the grounds of the church and are in the midst of a special series of Sunday services recognizing and highlighting the many positive aspects of Zion, including our music program, outreaches like the soup kitchen, Sunday School and more.
The Search Committee has several strong candidates being considered for our new pastor and is still receiving resumes at this writing. It is hopeful it can complete its work soon. Rev Hanberry is wrapping up one of his primary projects while our interim. I want to talk a minute about that effort.
As Consistory President I have been working with Gerry on a new structure of leadership teams (committees) for the Church. These ideas have been reviewed over several months with the Consistory and current leadership.
The plan divides teams into two major categories - Management/Administration (Finance, Property, Pastor Parish Relations and Personnel) and Ministries. We will focus on the second category here.
The idea is to put together a well thought-out set of teams to carry on and advance the various ministries of the church: Christian Education and Youth, Congregation Life, Evangelism, Mission and Outreach and Worship. Those of you performing ongoing functions such as ushering and working soup kitchen will keep doing just what you are. (And I promise will not have to serve on some new committee!) But in other cases a new team will consolidate and add to current committees and tasks. Worship is one of the most obvious and will be the first where you will see something new.
The new Worship team will bring together Music, oversee the various Worship functions, greeters, lectors, etc,. and work with the Pastor on worship planning, styles, suggestions and more. With this we will have a group dedicated to making our whole worship experience the best and most fulfilling possible each week. Other teams like Congregation Life will plan special activities like Pancake Breakfasts and social events, welcome new members, etc.
Rev. Hanberry is including with the newsletter a summary that goes into much more detail on all this. In addition, there will be a handout available at the church beginning this Sunday, July 4.
My job is to encourage you to get involved in this new way of doing things around here. Please consider volunteering to be part of a team. Don't be shy about pitching in with your two-cents worth in these various groups. Zion needs you!! So read the flyer and talk to me or Gerry about how you want to participate.
Finally, I want to say a word about the new budget we begin working on in August - not that far away. I want to expand involvement in putting the 2011 Budget together. We will be reviewing in some detail how we spend our money and where changes should be made. I will be talking to many of you already part of this process and invite suggestions from everyone. We need to be wise stewards in the use of the Lord's money.
Thanks for reading and please talk to me (301-733-7154) and other consistory members about any and all these thoughts. Zion is your church and we want to, no, we need to hear from you.
Have a blessed summer,
Jeff Downin, 2010 Consistory President
