Dear Members and Friends of the Dalton First United Methodist Church -

 

I give thanks to my God always as I remember you in my prayers. I especially remember your growth.  From our birth until our death, we are expected to grow spiritually.  This value is the foundation of our children, youth, adult and small group ministries within the church.  While I passionately love our numerical growth, representing new Christians and those who have decided to worship Christ through Dalton First United Methodist Church, I give thanks to God for the personal, spiritual growth I see in each of you.

Bishop Robert Schnase introduced his new book two years ago at Lake Junaluska.  I was privileged to be present as a District Superintendent when for only the second time all the Superintendents in the world were called together.  In Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, he writes, "To fulfill the ministry of Christ, congregations must change and grow and adapt in ways that are purposeful, thoughtful, and faithful.  Change is not easy.  People do not fear change as much as they fear loss, the letting go of comfortable and familiar patterns, behaviors, and attitudes.  Change for the sake of change or to preserve the institution is not sufficient.  Change takes many forms, and each congregation must find its own path." 

As your Senior Pastor, I become an interpreter of change.  Indeed, change must not just appear but be purposeful, thoughtful and faithful.  As a Senior Pastor, I cannot order change.  All I have is persuasion.  In other words, I am in conversation with the leadership and the congregation about God's call upon our church and how to live that out.  In most cases, when I feel the congregation is not with me on a particular issue, I know I need to go back in prayer and reflection to see whether I was on track with the Holy Spirit or whether I was using proper language and understanding to share.  Often I ask trusted laity and staff to join me in this reflection. Sometimes, I found the congregation not at fault, but rather my vision or my approach to the congregation.  

Precious Lord, let me with humility set myself before you.  Help me, Lord, to see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly in my life.  Let me not be quick to judge.  Open my eyes, dear Lord, to see the log in my own eye before I shout about the splinter in another.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Each week we have three incredible worship services at Dalton First UMC - 8:30am and 11:00am in the sanctuary and 11:00am remiX in Famber Hall.  Come and invite a friend along - offer to buy them lunch.  May God bless each of your invitations.

The Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development (new name for the Lay Leadership Committee which was a new name for the Committee on Nominations and Personnel) has done a wonderful job working on our lay leadership for 2010.  These will be presented for endorsement to the Church Conference on Monday, November 30, 7:00pm with our District Superintendent, Dr. Mike Cavin.  I thank the committee for their incredibly hard and great work!

This Sunday we will consecrate Gene Tibbs who is going to Sierra Leone on a Mission Trip with the Gideons where they will distribute 120,000 Bibles.  Wow!

Neighborhood meetings continue to great hospitality, food and conversation.  Thank you all from Kathy and me.

God bless.  See you Sunday!
    
In Christ,
Dr. Robin L Lindsey
Dalton First United Methodist Church
706-278-8494 (Office)