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Staying the Course |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 10/9/2008 9:20 AM | Greetings on this gloomy fall morning,
It is easy to feel as gloomy as the skies these days…if we let ourselves. It is easy to let fear and worry overtake our lives…if we give in to it. But that is not who we are: we are the church, and we face things with the hopeful promise of brighter days. Now, this does not mean we can act foolishly or extravagantly in our personal lives, or as the church, especially when it comes to our finances. We must be realistic about who we are, and what God has put in front of us to accomplish. We discern that through prayer and discussion, looking at where we have been, assessing where we are, planning for where we want to go. We do it with our feet firmly on the ground, and our eyes on what God has called us to be. Not always an easy combination, but something that is very important, nonetheless.
All this is important as we sit around our kitchen tables and look at our home finances, and it is important as we sit around our conference table and look at our church finances. Here at BCC, if we focus on what’s going on now, the simple truth is, things are going very well. Our ministries are growing, our attendance is growing, new folks continue to be drawn to what we are doing, we are in good financial shape. There is a vibrant spirit of community present here that bodes well for our future and for our ability to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. The future is bright here at BCC, and I for one, feel blessed to be part of it.
But of course, when it comes to financial matters, we do not operate in a vacuum. We are watching and waiting as financial markets rise and fall, tumble and turn, and we wonder what it will mean for our members, our congregation, for our city, state and nation. It is a time of uncertainty, and a time of challenges. But in the midst of all challenges, opportunities rise up for those who will carefully consider how to best grasp them. So it is with the church. We head into our budgetary process with a solid foundation, but with a wary eye on the storm all around us. We want to continue to serve God faithfully, yet we must be good stewards of all we have been given.
All these things are reasons why our 3rd quarter board meeting on Sunday October 19th, immediately following worship is so important. At this meeting we will take a hard look at how we can be financially responsible and still be true to God’s call on our lives. We will hear the recommendations of the stewardship and finance committee, and we will receive the report of the nominating committee as to who will be nominated to lead us in the coming year. We will prayerfully and prudently consider how we continue our ministry without breaking stride..
This process is always important, but it’s importance is felt now, more than ever. There are significant issues in front of us as a nation, a society and as a church and now, more than ever is when we must take the time to carefully chart our course. In difficult times, people need the church, and now, more than ever, we want to be positioned to fulfill that need.
So, leaving the doom and gloom behind; making plans with a positive yet realistic eye to the future, we need to step up and face that future, seizing opportunities, living out God’s purpose, all to God’s honor and glory.
We are in a very good place, and we want to be careful to make sure that we continue on the path we are following. This will be the centerpiece of our quarterly board meeting on Sunday October 19th immediately following worship.
THERE WILL BE NO FELLOWSHIP POT LUCK LUNCH ON OCTOBER 19TH, BUT ALL ARE INVITED TO COME TO THIS IMPORTANT MEETING WHERE LUNCH WILL BE SERVED.
All Elders, Deacons, Trustees, Permanent Funds members, and ministry chairs are expected to be at the meeting, but anyone interested in hearing about our future direction is whole-heartedly welcomed! If you are not a member of the board, but plan on coming, just let me know via return e-mail, so we can plan the food.
It is easy to be filled with gloom and doom…but not when we know we are doing our best to serve God. Join us as we chart our course for the future of BCC.
For an updated prayer list and list of coming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For Your Prayer Lists:
Keep Sarah Brooks in your prayers as she continues to recover from pneumonia at Scottish Rite. She will most likely be there until the weekend.
Keep Mrs. Fitzgerald, 99 year old mother of a friend of Carol Ann Womack’s in your prayers. She fell and broke her pelvis and has now contracted a bladder infection. Otherwise, she is remarkably healthy and vibrant and just needs to get past the infection so she can get to rehab.
Chelsea Sell, friend of the Rodgers, has an appointment with a neurologist to see if a recent episode of disorientation was because of a seizure or an injury. Chelsea is on the women’s rugby team at Georgia Southern.
Good news from Carol Bailey, sister of Judy Mowrey. The latest cancer surgery was a success and it appears that all the lymph nodes tested were cancer free! She will most likely undergo a regimen of radiation treatments, but sends a big thank you to BCC for their prayers and support.
Upcoming Events
This Saturday, October 11 at 10:00, the BCC Garden Club is hosting a demonstration of how to make your own rain barrels. In these days of drought, using any rain water wisely is a mark of good stewardship of our resources. Light refreshments will be served. Contact Mary Malek or Daonne Caldwell for more information.
THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING! THIS SUNDAY IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORSHIP! We need anyone who can pick up a pumpkin to come and help us unload the truck. Lunch will be served and the more hands on deck, the more fun we have and the quicker it gets done! So bring some work clothes to church and join in! Also, don’t forget to sign up to work the pumpkin patch from October 13 to October 31 (or sooner if we sell all the pumpkins!) If everyone pitches in and works 3 to 4 shifts, we will be covered nicely.
Mark Saturday October 18th on your calendar as “BCC Day” on the pumpkin patch. There will be an inflatable “moon walk” on the site, face painting, some refreshments and holiday craft decorations for sale made lovingly by the members of the BCC Garden Club. There will also be a “Scarecrow Contest”….just bring your kids, all the materials will be on hand for them to decorate a scarecrow for Halloween. Come and join in the fun!
Don’t forget to sign up for “More Hands for God Day”, Saturday October 25th. Members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will gather at “The City of Refuge” in downtown Atlanta for a day of service and fellowship. No special skills are needed, just a willingness to help. Please sign up using the sheet in the bulletin Sunday or contact me via e-mail. We will leave here about 8:00 a.m., carpool to the site and be done by 1:00 or 1:30…plenty of time for afternoon football!
Remember, NO POTLUCK on Sunday October 19th. Instead, lunch will be served at the quarterly board meeting and all are welcome to attend and hear about what’s happening at BCC. (Non-board members, please let us know you are coming.)
People in our neighborhood and around the city are feeling the pinch of tight times. Requests for food and assistance are at a peak right now and you can help. Please bring 2 or 3 canned goods this Sunday (and every Sunday!) to church and place them in the box marked “Participating in the Miracle of Abundance”. This food is being taken to the Oglethorpe Food Pantry where dozens of families are being served. And also, don’t forget the toiletries for the hygiene kits to be distributed at “More Hands for God Day”. Churches all over the area are going to bring these supplies to the City of Refuge on October 25 for distribution. Please have you donations here by October 19th. When each of us pitches in just a little, a lot can be accomplished.
I hope to see you in worship this Sunday when we begin a short series looking at “Lessons from the Kings.” This week’s sermon is entitled “David: The Shepherd King” and the scripture is 2 Samuel 5: 1-5,10 (but the sermon will really draw the breadth of David’s life.) Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad
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