By Dan Hester

When the crepe myrtles start to bloom, I know that the end of summer is approaching. As I start to turn towards fall planning, I thought that an overview of the ministry of St. Andrew's was worthwhile to write.

Almost a year ago our long range planning committee, the Joel Committee, submitted to the Administrative Council its report concerning where God was leading St. Andrew's UMC. The Council has since then been considering, prioritizing, and acting on that report. In short, the Council prioritized 8 items on which to focus its attention. Some of the items are visionary. Some are very practical. Here they are in order of priority as set by the Council with my own commentary.

1. Disciple Development. This emphasis calls each person and each group within the church to consider how they are offering Christ to people, and deepening the Christian walk of existing disciples. I often think of this with the baseball analogy of advancing base runners.

2. Hospitality. This goal asks St. Andrew's to model the welcome of Christ. Hospitality is also welcoming the stranger and recognizing that the stranger brings blessings and gifts. In true biblical hospitality the roles of guest and host often switch.

3. Be a Light to the Neighborhood. This visionary goal is biblically rooted in the call of Israel to be a light to the nations, and the teaching of Jesus to not hide your light under a bushel. This goal is also rooted in St. Andrew's origin and history in this neighborhood.

As a matter of priority, the Council drew a line in pencil here. The top three goals are the most substantial, challenging, and promising avenues for ministry. Rather than try to accomplish everything at once, the Council chose to focus on the top three. The following five goals are still before the council. These get discussed and prayed for. They are not on a back burner, but they do get viewed through the lens of the top three.

4. Emphasize Seniors. Our elders continue to grow in faith and have gifts to offer for the ministry of the Church. Multi-generational ministry, health and wellness, transportation, and the homebound are all areas of interest for St. Andrew's and its seniors.

5. Missions. Our local and international outreach has been and will continue to be a strength and pillar of St. Andrew's. Missions are not only a means to fulfill the will of Christ, but missions are also a way of proving faithful witness to an unbelieving world.

6. Emphasize Youth. Our aim here is not to keep youth ministry in a silo unto itself, but to integrate our future leaders now. Our youth are also in the position to combine several of our overall goals such as mission, neighborhood involvement, and disciple development.

7. Multi-generational Ministry. Discipleship has always involved mentoring relationships. Plus, nothing keeps one young like working with children and youth. This item highlights the mutual benefits available to all age-groups when we plan and conduct ministries together.

8. Emphasizing Family Through Baptism. Baptism joins us in Christ and helps us know the best sense of what it means to be family, both through biology and through faith. In an age of broken, abusive, and atypical family structures, the Church can provide a holy sense of belonging, nurture, and growth for everyone, no matter what the biological family background. 

I invite you and whatever groups you may be a part of in the church to consider how you might direct your efforts with these goals and intentions of St. Andrew's. 

Here are some pictures from today!  Sorry, it has been difficult to get updates typed this year!

St. Andrew's United Methodist Church will host its Annual Music Camp August 11 - 15 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  The kids will learn, rehearse and perform a musical as well as take classes on instruments.  The musical is "It's Cool in the Furnace", the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  The lessons they learn will stay with them for a lifetime.  This is an exciting week in our church and we hope you will be a part of it. 

We need volunteers.  We need participants.  Items we need donated are:  10 muffin mixes, 4 dozen cookies (no nuts), 24 individually packaged potato chips, 1 box of Cheerios, 3 pkgs of turkey pepperoni, Large bags of Popped Corn, 1 box of Ritz Crackers, mini marshmallows, 10 oz box of raisins, 2 boxes of Teddy Grahams, Styrofoam Plates 250 ct-8 inch round, 300 large napkins, 2 pkgs of Coffee filters (100 ct), 10 oranges and apples, 2 -8 oz blocks of cheese, 3 lb bag of baby carrots,  watermelon, celery stalks, 2 8 oz of cream cheese, instant lemonade for 136 servings, 80 9 oz plastic cups.  For more information or to sign up, volunteer or donate an item please contact the church office, Gayle Smith or Ruth Maudlin.  Items can be dropped off in the Narthex.

It has been a busy first two days on the job sites.  We have had a ton of rain and no internet!  The kids are all working hard in spite of the rain.  It has been a busy night with a trip down to Carolina Beach to get ice cream and Britt's donuts for Brian Dowless' birthday.  We don't have a lot of time to type tonight, but I will upload some photos for you to see!  They are not pictures of all the job sites, but we will try to get up more later. 

The youth are on their way down to Wilmington as we speak.  I’m sure some are very excited for the week ahead, but I’m also sure some of them are as nervous as can be.  We have youth who this their umpteenth mission trip as well as youth who this is their first time really away from home.  I ask that you as our church family pray for our youth and chaperones this week as we seek to be God’s light to the Wilmington area.

Our theme for the week is “Ripple Effect”.  We will be looking at both the positive and negative ripple effect our actions can have on those around us. 

We will explore Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well and how this encounter can be eerily similar to our mission trip experiences. 

We will look at what it means to conform to this world and the potential ripple effect we can have when we choose not to conform.

We will look at what it means to be the body of Christ and use our gifts for good.  We will talk about the ripple effect we can have when the body of Christ is functioning well and the ripple effect that can happen when the body breaks down.

We will talk about Christian love talked about in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13 and the ripple effect that can be see when we live out this radical love. 

If you want to join along with us this week, here are the daily readings:

Monday - John 4: 7-26

Tuesday – Romans 12:1-2

Wednesday – Romans 12: 4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Thursday – Romans 12:3, 9-21, 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Friday – we will be reviewing all of that and having our closing worship.  I ask that you read these passages each day and pray that God speaks to these youth and adults through his word.  I believe when we return, you will see the ripple effect of your prayers!

We have an exciting week planned, but also quite a challenging week ahead.  Here is what is on the docket for our projects.

This week we will…

Build 2 wheel chair ramps

Replace receptacles, switches, and switch plates

Install transition pieces in between rooms

Replace broken window panes

Add grab bars in the bathroom to make it easier for residents to use the bathroom and get out of the shower

Add smoke detectors to homes

Add supports to an existing deck

Repair flooring in 6 rooms (some all the way down to floor joists)

Add hand rails to several decks, steps, and homes

Replace 2 doors

Replace a bathroom vanity and top

Change out 3 toilets

Replace 4 sets of steps

Install a window A/C unit

Replace rotted wood and fascia boards around a home

Paint replaced/repaired boards on that house

Repair and replace some siding

Replace a ceiling light

Several of these task may seem small, but are going to be big jobs with challenges.

Our youth are going to be stretched in ways they would have never imagined this week…our adults will be stretched as well.

However, one thing I am sure of is that God is going to show up and move through these youth.  We have 63 people ready to see the ripple effect of God’s work here in Wilmington! 

With Sandy Devoid leaving, the Staff Parish Committee decided to review how we are deploying the staff in support of the key goals adopted by the Administrative Council.  Disciple Development and to be a Light to the Neighborhood were identified as two main goals that require more support.  As a result of this review, we have decided to reorganize the staff. 

Kevin Ward will continue with youth ministry and add adult discipleship and community outreach.  There is no change in the time allocated to youth.  We will hire a 30 hour per week person to focus on Children's ministry, reporting to Kevin since these areas overlap.

Gayle Smith will take over coordination of the logistics for the FLC service from Kevin.  The FLC music team will select the music and coordinate rehearsals.  We will hire a drummer for the FLC service to replace Kevin.

We will transition into these new roles over the next couple of months as we define job descriptions and expectations.  We will move forward with hiring of a drummer and part-time person for Children’s ministry.

If you have any questions or comments about the direction we have taken, please feel free to contact me or any other member of the Staff-Parish Committee.

                                                           

 Tom Patton, Chair Staff-Parish Committee